Disaster Prevention Day Japan
- April Dykes
- 9月1日
- 読了時間: 6分
Disaster Prevention Day Japan
Japan is a beautiful island nation, located in northeast Asia. While it sits on a rich history of music, art, and nature, it also sits along major fault lines, the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line (ISTL) and the Median Tectonic Line (MTL).
“Of the 14 or 15 tectonic plates known in the world, four converge on Japan, where over 2000 active faults can be found. According to the 2013 White Paper on Disaster Prevention, issued by the Cabinet, some 20% of earthquakes in the world measuring magnitude 6 or over occur in or around Japan. Further, there are 110 active volcanoes in Japan, accounting for about 7% of such volcanoes in the world” (UTokyo).
In addition to the tectonic lines that run through Japan, it is also one of the 17 countries that the Ring of Fire touches. “The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean known for its intense geological activity, including a high concentration of volcanoes and earthquakes. Spanning approximately 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) in length and up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) wide, it is one of the most dynamic regions on Earth” (Geologyn). In addition to its location being in the ring of fire, Japan is also prone to tropical storms and other natural disasters.
“First, the country is subject to extreme climatic variations, such as seasonal rain fronts and typhoons, as well as heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of the archipelago. Second, Japan's topography is rugged, and there are many faults and steep inclines. Third, Japan is located in the Pacific earthquake belt and is frequently struck by earthquakes, while its complex coastline is vulnerable to tsunamis. And fourth, Japan is located in the circum-Pacific zone, in which almost all the volcanoes of the world are concentrated, and has 83 active volcanoes, one-tenth of the world total” (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan).
From devastating earthquakes to tsunamis, these catastrophic events have changed the way Japan approaches natural disasters. Among those approaches was the creation of Disaster Prevention Day.
The Great Kanto Earthquake and its legacy
On September 1, 1923, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Kanto region, causing a tsunami, fires, and widespread destruction in Tokyo and Yokohama. This destruction was measured not only through structural damage, which was totaled at nearly 6.5 billion yen, an amount that was 4 times larger than Japan’s 1922 national budget. The destruction was measured in loss of life as well.
Over 110,000 people lost their lives, and over a million lost their homes. This created an opportunity for reconstruction in Tokyo in the form of restoring what had been lost, as well as a call to see the disaster as a revealer. After the earthquake, educator Tousaku Miura stated that disasters exposed what a society needed to fix, enhance, or face head-on. It not only exposed the weaknesses but also the strengths. This reflection was shared by others and fueled the desire to create better buildings, thus leading to the creation of the 1924 National Seismic Building Code.
Since 1924, building codes have changed, and the Building Standard Act was created in 1950 “to secure safety and hygiene standards of constructed buildings and to ensure that all buildings are harmonized with construction plans of urban areas” (DLA PIPER). The Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995 exposed construction flaws. According to e-housing, most of the buildings that collapsed were built before 1971, and 3% of all of the collapsed buildings were built after 1981.
As a result, the Building Standard Act was updated to ensure that all buildings can withstand severe earthquakes without collapsing. In 2000, the Housing Quality Assurance Act was passed. This act introduced a seismic grading system that rates houses on damage and collapse prevention.
With enhanced building codes and new technological advancements, there are 3 types of buildings that can withstand earthquakes in different capacities: earthquake-resistant, damping, and seismic isolation. Earthquake-resistant buildings are rigid and built to withstand seismic activity, but they tend to sway. Damping structures are built with walls that can absorb earthquake energy. Its seismic impact reduction is 70-80%. Lastly, seismic isolation structures are often used in tall buildings. “They can reduce earthquake impact to about 1/3 to 1/5 of normal buildings” (ehousing).
Disaster Prevention Day
In 1960, after yet another devastating natural disaster, the Ise Bay Typhoon of September 1959, the government decided to create Disaster Prevention Day. To raise public awareness and disaster prevention knowledge, September 1st was chosen to commemorate the date of the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Disaster prevention knowledge:
Knowing where your local evacuation shelters are
Knowing about your area’s disaster map
Having an emergency bag in a place that’s easy to grab, filled with
Important documents or copies of them
Food with a long shelf life and easy to prepare
Water
Medication
First aid supplies
Helmets
Infectious disease prevention measures: masks, gloves, disinfectant, etc.
Toilet paper
A radio
Flashilight and more
How to secure your furniture
How to prepare your home in the event of losing power, access to water, etc.
Where to go in your home during an earthquake
How to stockpile food
These are just a few measures that should be taken to minimize the aftermath of a natural disaster; however, there are many more important tips that you can find at the links below.
Earthquake Tips
The following information comes from the Public Relations Office, Government of Japan:
[Inside the house]Protect your head with a cushion or something similar, move away from large furniture, and hide under a sturdy table or similar. Do not rush outside in a panic. If a fire breaks out, try to put out the fire if possible, and if you are far from the source of the fire, do not try to get too close.
[In commercial facilities, etc.]Follow the instructions of the facility guidance staff. Protect your head and prepare for shaking. Do not rush to the exits or stairs in a panic. Stay away from glass display shelves, hanging lights, etc.
[In an elevator]Stop the elevator at the nearest floor and exit the elevator as quickly as possible.
[When in town]Move away from things that may fall, such as block walls and vending machines. Signs and pieces of broken window glass may fall, so move quickly away from buildings.
[If you are near a mountain or cliff]Quickly move away from areas where falling rocks or landslides are likely to occur.
[If you are driving a car]Do not panic and slow down. Instead, drive slowly with your hazard lights on and warn other cars. Check your surroundings and pull over to the left side of the road. Turn off the engine and wait in the car until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, get out of the car with the key in the ignition and the doors unlocked, and evacuate to a safe place.
[When riding a train or bus]Hold on tightly to straps or handrails to avoid being thrown off the train, and follow the instructions of the conductor or guide.
Tsunami Tips
[When a tsunami warning or advisory is issued]
If you are near the coast and feel strong shaking or hear a tsunami warning or advisory, immediately leave the area and evacuate to higher ground. Even if you are visiting a tourist spot for the first time or are unfamiliar with the geography, immediately evacuate using "tsunami evacuation site" or "tsunami evacuation building" signs.
However, evacuation sites, designated by local governments, tsunamis can strike unexpectedly. Please take the initiative to evacuate at your own discretion depending on the situation.
Tsunamis also follow the river's current from the river mouth upstream. If you are near a river, go inland, away from the river's path.
Useful Websites
This provides detailed disaster preparation tips and countermeasures [Japanese only, but you can use your web browser to translate it]
Managed by the city of Tokyo, this website uses Yasashi Nihongo for foreign residents to help them understand the language used during emergency evacuations.
Provides information on how you can prepare yourself for a disaster, ranging from things you should do daily and links to help you find prefecture-specific information.
An English guide with information about emergency apps, phone numbers, and survival tips.
Contains information on what to do during and after an earthquake, as well as how to get up-to-date information after one has taken place.
As terrifying as all of these facts can be, it’s better to know the situation so that you can be prepared. When faced with a natural disaster, please remember to arm yourself with information and try to stay calm.
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