Japanese are prepping for natural disasters by stocking up on hand-cranked radios, batteries and old tech
Shops are running out of stock and manufacturers are trying to ramp up production to respond to surging interest
Old-fashioned electronics, such as hand-cranked radios and battery operated lights, are making a comeback in Japan as more people become sensitive to the impact of natural disasters on their lives after heavy downpours and earthquakes hit the country.
Shops are running out of stock and electronic manufacturers are trying to ramp up production to respond to surging interest for appliances that do not depend on power points.
“Our production cannot keep up with the demand because of a large amount of orders. Please be patient,” said a Sony company statement on September 19 about hand-cranked portable radios retailing between 9,200 yen (US$81) and 10,300 yen.
The handy radio, a key information gathering tool in disasters, can charge smartphones and function as a flashlight with light-emitting diodes.
Inquiries about the product have surged after the devastating September 6 earthquake on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, which triggered a prefecture-wide blackout.