eiyosus said:

From what little English language news reports I've seen, it looks like they're just trying to scare the crap out of everybody (fear sells and all that).

I have been getting that impression from my room mate's brother too (who, as mentioned earlier in this thread, lives in Japan). He has exhibited similar sentiments to you and said he has no intention of leaving his friends and his Japanese fiance and her family to flee to America. American media tends to be really sensationalist. Like you said, fear sells.

Also, sounds like they are doing a hell of a job keeping those power plants contained.