Final Post

Japan is one of the countries most affected by natural hazards, from active volcanoes to frequent hurricanes, yet the two most disastrous hazards in Japan are earthquakes and tsunamis.  Although you would think since hurricanes and  are much more common than earthquakes they would be larger threat,but when earthquakes and tsunamis strike in Japan they often times happen one after each other, and their death tool and loss of property is much greater.  


Japan already does a lot to keep their people safe from earthquakes there by using advanced earthquake resistant buildings and enforcing strict building codes.  Even though Japan's 2011 northeastern earthquake was high on the richter scale the death toll was just over 15,000, which for an earthquake of this size is very low.  In 2004 before Japan was as strict about earthquake safety the country was devastated by a 9.1 quake with a much higher death toll.  Since the devastation of the the 2011 earthquake which was actually predicted by scientists but ignored, the country now trusts the warnings from scientists much more.  I think Japan does good job keeping their people safe from earthquakes, but they would probably benefit a lot from not only making skyscrapers and new buildings earthquake safe but also by updating their older buildings where most of the damage occurs. 

The majority of deaths on during the 2011 earthquake was actually caused by the following tsunami with waves that reached 30 feet.  Since Japan has a close offshore plate boundary it's earthquakes cause frequent tsunamis.  And since the country is an island it is widely affected.  Japan tries to protect their people with seawalls along riskier areas, along with high rise evacuation structures.  

I think Japan should really focus on improving their tsunami safety, first with greater information for the public, so when they are warned of incoming tsunamis the warnings are not ignored.  The I believe they could really try to improve their warning system in general, along with old fashioned sirens for coastal areas. My first target during a disaster would be boast around the coast to try and find any survivors, before rescuing the people who made it to higher ground sine they're more in urgent need.  

If I were to build a house in Japan I believe I would choose Honshu the Japanese mainland, since it is a much larger island it has a lot more inland than the others.  Possibly in Osaka since it has a very low earthquake and tsunami risk.  



Oskin, Becky Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and information. May 07,2015. http://www.livescience.com/39110-japan-2011-earthquake-tsunami-facts.html

Gough, MIles. Japan is Building Seawall.  30 Mar, 2015. Science Alert.  http://www.sciencealert.com/japan-is-building-a-400-km-sea-wall-to-protect-against-tsunamis

Foster, Peter.  Japan earthquake: country better prepared than anyone for quakes and tsunamis. 11 Mar 2011.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8375591/Japan-earthquake-country-better-prepared-than-anyone-for-quakes-and-tsunamis.html