Considering the fact that in 2017 alone about a dozen North Korean ballistic missiles landed in the Sea of Japan, it is not that difficult to understand why fallout shelters are being seen as an increasingly desirable solution to the unstable political situation.
Oribe Nobuko, CEO of the Oribe Seiki Seisakusho fallout shelter construction company, told Sputnik in an exclusive interview that the growing demand for his product is the result of fears over a possible North Korean attack.
Oribe Seiki Seisakusho has been building fallout shelters since 1962 when the Cold War fanned fears of a possible nuclear exchange between the US and USSR, and its sales have been steadily growing during the past few years, increasing 26 times as compared to 2016.
Each fallout shelter made by the company is a comfortable and airtight compartment which allows its occupants to remain inside for up to 2 weeks, provided that they have an adequate stockpile of food and water. The shelters are equipped with Swiss-made air conditioning and purification system that filters both radiation particles and toxic gases like sarin. The price of the shelters range from 18 to 25 million yen (approximately $164,000 to $227,000).
According to Oribe-san, his company is usually contracted to build shelters for families of 3 to 5 people, as Japanese families nowadays are less numerous that before.
The entrepreneur also pointed out that while his company is far from the only fallout shelter construction firm in Japan, only Oribe Seiki Seisakusho has the necessary experience and access to Swiss-manufactured air purification system needed to build a completely safe nuclear sanctuary. He added that an entrance door to a fallout shelter made by Oribe Seiki Seisakusho could withstand an explosion and does not melt even when heated up to 1,200 degrees Celsius.
Oribe’s company also seeks to raise awareness about how to protect oneself in case of a nuclear catastrophe and radiation hazard, disseminating relevant information via the Japan Nuclear Shelter Association.
