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[mushroomyakuza]

The earthquake that hit Chile recently has some people rather concerned. I've also recently discovered the as-yet-to-happen Tokai earthquake, which is expected to be almost catastrophic in the damage it will do. I don't want to sound paranoid or like a scaredy cat, but this does have me pretty worried I have to say. I'm leaving for Japan in two weeks and would really appreciate any reassurance as to how proficient the Japanese are with earthquakes and preparing for them, especially in Tokyo.

[Apsara]

Basically all of us who live in Tokyo live with the knowledge that an enormous earthquake could hit us at any time- it's just something you have to deal with if you want to live here. Many other parts of Japan are equally at risk- the Niigata and Touhoku regions have been hit by some pretty big ones since I have been living in Japan, big enough that we felt them here in Tokyo.

The biggest direct hit on Tokyo in the 12 years that I have lived here was about 5 years ago and was a decent-sized shake (something like magnitude 5.6), but in my apartment all that happened was that some spice jars fell off the fridge. The trains were messed up for hours though (they have to inspect al the tracks if the quake is over a certain size).

Smaller quakes are very common. There hasn't been a large earthquake in the Kanto region since before WWII (I'm guessing you've found info about the 1923 earthquake), so people can only make educated guesses about what will happen here. Looking at the Kobe earthquake in 1995 though, I think we would be in for a very nasty time. Estimates for fatalities in Tokyo if/when the Tokai earthquake hits us vary, but seem to be in the range of 100,000 plus.

What you can do to increase your chances of surviving an earthquake at home in Tokyo are not to live in a building more than about 15 years old. Anything older than that and the construction may not have as much earthquake-proofing. I lived in a 30 year old house a few years ago and it was in very poor condition- an earthquake would have flattened it, and I have noticed in TV coverage of the Niigata earthquakes that pretty much all the collapsed houses were over 30 years old, whereas newer structures right next to them would have survived intact. I prefer buildings less than 10 years old, and wouldn't live higher than about the 6th floor if I could avoid it- my husband (Japanese) feels the same.

Don't have large bookshelves near your bed- the one fatality in an earthquake in Shizuoka last year (not far from Tokyo, everyone here was woken up by it) died when a shelf of books fell on her.

Also have an emergency pack with water, food etc. handy. Know the route to take to walk home from your workplace if necessary. Also, if we get a small earthquake (happens all the time- average once or twice a month), don't panic! It's always funny to see new arrivals from non-earthquake prone areas dive under tables during a magnitude 3 tremor, while the Japanese people and people from shaky places like New Zealand and California just carry on with what they were doing. I remember in one of the Tohoku earthquakes 2 or so years ago, one of the deaths was a man who ran out the door of his building when the earthquake started, right into the path of an oncoming truck. They advise not rushing outside.

As for typhoons, they happen every year. They don't usually reach Hurricane Katrina proportions, but in rural areas landslides and swollen rivers seem to get a number of people every year, and then there is always that guy who climbs up on his roof during a typhoon because it's leaking and falls off- I swear, one or two every year. Don't be that guy! And don't worry too much.

[G Cthulhu]

[mushroomyakuza]

Good points, guys, thanks for the info. It has eased my mind some I admit. And you say, worrying or no, there's nothing I can do about it. I will however be checking the age of my building...and maybe acting on it depending on what I find. Thanks guys.

[gwynnie86]

This is something I've been worrying about a lot, too. I'll be living in Fuji City, Shizuoka, so pretty much in the middle of it. I also heard that Mt Fuji might erupt as a result of the earthquake, too!!
But I suppose that Japan is safer in so many other respects... less crime, better healthcare, generally a more organised and efficiently run country when compared to a large percentage of the world. I know I will be safer walking back to my apartment in Japan than I do in Manchester.
But life is all about risks. Sure, we're moving to an area that is expecting a massive earthquake. It might kill us. But you could die at anytime. You could be hit by a car tomorrow, or die of a heart attack brought on by the anxiety of anticipating an earthquake. If you didn't put yourself in danger's path, you would never leave your house. Sure, you might live longer, but how many stories would you have to tell?
This is all the stuff I'm telling myself, in order to get out there and enjoy it, by the way ^_^

[Rooster_2006]