Japan: Mini-Noah's Ark In Case Of Next Tsunami

TOKYO — A small Japanese company has developed a modern, miniature version of Noah's Ark in case Japan is hit by another massive earthquake and tsunami: a floating capsule that looks like a huge tennis ball.

Japan's Cosmo Power says its "Noah" shelter is made of enhanced fiberglass that can save users from disasters like the one on March 11 that devasted Japan's northern coast, leaving nearly 20,000 people dead or missing.

Company president Shoji Tanaka says the capsule can hold four adults, and that it has survived many crash tests. It has a small lookout window and breathing holes on top. It also can be used as a toy house for children.

The company completed the capsule earlier this month and already has 600 orders, including two delivered.

Comments

[jennyopines]

03:07 PM on 10/04/2011

Neat idea, though personally I'm getting claustrophobic just looking at it.

[jragga]

01:08 PM on 10/04/2011

is it me or does that look like a pokemon ball...

heh

[Massconfusion]

01:52 PM on 10/03/2011

Where's Claud Oldenburg with that Really BIG Tennis racket when you need him?

[mariusvinchi]

10:14 AM on 10/03/2011

I'm not an engineer and even I can see that this contraption is highly unlikely to afford even a modicum of protection from earthquakes. Even less protection from a tsunami!

[Brodie Parker]

08:48 AM on 10/03/2011

Four Japanese adults or one average sized American.

[mariusvinchi]

10:16 AM on 10/03/2011

Maybe a midwestern American, but there is NO WAY your getting the average Mississippian into that death trap! They need to increase the opening diameter by about 40 inches or so....

[steveklipp]

07:01 AM on 10/03/2011

first of all i love how nobodys said this is a hilarious thing for the japanese to make. anyways its prob weighted at the bottom and if it does roll over water wont get in if its airtight because the air would have no way of escaping. there would be water pressure forcing air back into the bubble

[Jtt]

11:20 PM on 10/02/2011

¨Company president Shoji Tanaka says the capsule can hold four adults,¨ - and has a heated pool and tennis court? - That has to be a misprint.

[Mondayboy]

06:14 PM on 10/02/2011

The Colombian drug cartels have placed 2000 orders intended for shipments to the US

[foodoo]

10:53 AM on 10/02/2011

Is there a two person one? Can you fish out of it?

[3daywkend]

10:26 PM on 10/01/2011

"The company completed the capsule earlier this month and already has 600 orders, including two delivered."

....to the Niagara Falls area.

[PAIndy]

11:53 AM on 10/04/2011

I was just thinking.. what to do this weekend. Thanks 3day!!!

[TAIsabel]

06:01 PM on 10/01/2011

How do you drive this thing or does it just float aimlessly? What happens if you are sucked out to sea? You know what? I think I would take my chances with the tsunamis by heading to higher ground.

[elizabethwhite]

08:03 AM on 10/03/2011

Yes, it is the best if you are healthy and strong enough to run to higher ground that is over 40 meters above sea level, and have nothihg back at home to worry about. Many households that couldn't make it to the higher ground when the great tsunami hit Japan in March had elderly people and/or very young children/babies. People helped each other, but the ones who went to rescue the elderly/the young, lost their lives. Streets were jammed up after the earthquake, and some areas were soaked up to the fifth floor of the buildings. Safely swimming or floating in a car in tsunami is almost impossible unless you are very lucky not being crashed by the ships, houses, cars and debris in the strong current that goes back and forth many times.

[theepitviper]

03:32 PM on 10/01/2011

too many things need to worked out on the units........first the breath holes how dp keep water and debris out. what about if the air full of raditation, how do they stop that. is the buddle lined against raditon. what disposal of liquid and solid waste.. does it have a home signeal in case its gets covered. With four adults it would heat up in a very short time making it a sweat bubble. too many questions left unanswered, this thing could easly become a coffin.

[Craigipedia]

06:54 AM on 10/03/2011

Why would there be radiation in the air? Is the tsunami occuring on Jupiter? Are they jumping in to survive a nuclear attack?

Please check out the dozens of posts and hundreds of attached discussion topics on BraveNewClimate for information about the radiation released at Fukshima (and all other nuclear incidents). I am making an assumption here that you are concerned that the people would be imperilied by the fallout from a busted reactor. I should remind you that zero people have died from radiation as a result of Fukshima, but 30,000 died of the tsunami. One is an actual hazard, the other is something we can very easily get over with or without medical assistance.

Best,
- Craig

[jragga]

01:06 PM on 10/04/2011

1st how did you become a "Super User" the article clearly stated that 20,000 died not 30,000...
2nd There was Radiation in the air and it polluted a good area of Japan, do you even watch the news?
3rd One result from radiation exposure would be some form of cancer that would develop later, get back to me in 2020 or so and we'll see how many Japanese people develop cancer, that disaster had long lasting effects.

Best,
- John
heh

[thefreedomeagle]

11:10 PM on 10/06/2011

you got all your marbles........you obviously dont read scientific reports.........you dont make sense. you better check you statement because you couldnt be more if you tried

[llisa]

02:45 PM on 10/01/2011

Seems like the door should be on the top so the people could open it and get out if it got close to shore. Also, it might land blocking the door on pieces of debris.

[obinna000]

01:02 PM on 10/01/2011

Does it come in XL?

[wutzurbeef]

10:05 AM on 10/01/2011

So.. the breathing holes for this item are at the top.... and it is round like a ball. And in a Tsunami, it would probably get rolled around. What happens to the air holes if you are upside down and under water? Another example of deficiency PLUS.

[HappyBrit]

12:57 PM on 10/01/2011

Weighted at the bottom to keep it upright maybe?

[Craigipedia]

06:51 AM on 10/03/2011

ships are weighted at the bottom too... they didn't fare very well in the tsunami