Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Earthquakes in Japan and Preventive Measures

Japan is an archipelago located in an area where several continental and oceanic plates meet, causing frequent earthquakes and the presence of many volcanoes and hot springs throughout Japan. Sometimes these earthquakes occur under or near the ocean , which can trigger a tsunami .

In its history, many parts of Japan have experienced devastating earthquakes and tsunamis . The Great Kanto Earthquake , the worst in Japan’s history, struck the Kanto plain around Tokyo in 1923 , killing more than 100,000 people .

On March 11, 2011 , the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Japan triggered a massive tsunami along the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. Known as the Great East Japan Earthquake , the earthquake itself, and particularly the resulting tsunami, killed nearly 20,000 people and also caused a nuclear accident at a power plant in Fukushima prefecture .

Near the coast there are signs like this one to indicate how high above the sea you are and where to go in the event of a tsunami.

Something to take into account is that Japan uses the Shindo Scale to describe the intensity of earthquakesin a given place, while the Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, that is, the energy released by an earthquake at the epicenter. The Shindo scale goes from 1 to 7, from less to more intensity, respectively.

Japan uses the Shindo Scale to describe the intensity of earthquakesin a certain place

Shindo Scale
7	It is impossible to stand. The earthquake is likely to cause significant damage and some deaths. It happens only a few times a decade in Japan.
6+	It is impossible to stand. The earthquake is likely causing considerable damage and possibly some deaths. It happens about once a year.
6-	It is difficult to stand. Damage and injuries do occur, but rarely fatal. It happens once or twice a year.
5+	Large furniture can tip over and cause injury, but not major damage to buildings. It happens about 2-5 times a year.
5-	Things fall off the shelves. It does not usually cause damage or injury. It happens about 4-12 times a year.
4	Ceiling pendant lights sway vigorously and unstable objects may fall. It happens about twice a month somewhere in Japan.
3	Felt by most people. It usually happens every few days somewhere in Japan.
two	Felt by many people. It usually happens at least once a day somewhere in Japan.
1	Not felt by many people. It usually happens several times a day somewhere in Japan.

The Japanese word to designate earthquakes, earthquakes or tremors is “Jishin” 地震 and each household should have a survival bag or backpack with everything necessary for a few days, such as a flashlight, a radio, a first aid kit and enough food and water. In the government offices of the city in which you are residing, brochures with indications of what is most necessary for that particular area are available.

You should always avoid placing heavy objects in places where they can easily fall during an earthquake and cause injury or block exits. It is recommended to fix furniture such as bookcases or showcases to the walls to prevent them from falling in an earthquake. It is advisable to have a fire extinguisher near the entrance of your house and it is also advisable to familiarize yourself with the designated evacuation area in the area in which you reside.

Some stores and establishments sell these emergency bags (非常用袋) with much of what you may need in case of an earthquake.

Depending on the intensity of the earthquake, alarms are launched on the loudspeakers of the city, on television, radio and even mobile phones to report a few seconds before the earthquake. The biggest dangers during an earthquake are the fall of heavy objects or furniture, so you should try to protect yourself under a table or door frame. Do not leave your house immediately, rather try to remain as calm as possible until the earthquake passes or indications are given in the media that we mentioned before. If you are in the street, try to protect yourself from glass and other objects that may fall from surrounding buildings.

The government recommends that after a strong earthquake, you turn off ovens, stoves and the main gas valve. Get informed by radio, television or your phone about the news. If you live in an area very close to the coast, you should be alert to possible tsunamis and if you live in a mountainous area, to landslides.

In general, you shouldn’t worry so much about earthquakes in Japan as the collapse rate of buildings due to a strong earthquake is said to be extremely low. All buildings in Japan must have an earthquake-resistant structure, which means that new construction can only be approved by rigorously adhering to earthquake-proof standards set by law.