What a century of earthquakes has taught Japan

Japan has endured a century of seismic activity, with the most recent significant event occurring 13 years ago. This earthquake triggered a tsunami and a catastrophic accident at a nuclear plant in Fukushima. The memories of this disaster are still vivid in the minds of the Japanese populace. On Monday, these memories were brought back into sharp focus when an earthquake began in Ishikawa, and tsunami alarms started to sound.

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in Japan. When I first relocated there, I would be jolted awake by the slightest tremor. However, over time, I became accustomed to the tremors and would sleep through them. Despite this, there was always a lingering concern about when the next major earthquake would strike and whether our building was structurally sound enough to withstand it. These fears were realized on March 11, 2011, when the earth shook for two minutes in a manner that no one within living memory had experienced. The terror was palpable.

The worst was yet to come. Within 40 minutes, the first tsunamis were crashing ashore, obliterating towns and villages along Japan's northeast coast. The following day, it was revealed that a nuclear power plant was in crisis. The Fukushima meltdowns had begun, and hundreds of thousands of people were being evacuated from their homes. Even Tokyo didn't feel safe. The trauma of that day left a profound imprint on the collective psyche of the Japanese people. In the aftermath, my wife and I sought a new residence in Tokyo, prioritizing locations with strong bedrock, elevated terrain, and modern buildings. Once we relocated, we began stockpiling food and water. The terror of 2011 resurfaced on Monday with another earthquake. Many buildings collapsed, trapping people underneath. However, the majority of buildings remained intact, and life is gradually returning to normal. Despite the extensive damage, this earthquake also underscores Japan's success in mitigating the effects of such disasters.