Vol. 22: FROM THE EDITOR

Compared with most countries, Japan is highly susceptible to earthquakes. If you look at the Cabinet Office’s disaster management website, it says in black and white that there is a 70% chance over the next 30 years of a magnitude 7 Tokyo inland earthquake (directly below the metropolitan area) or a magnitude 8 or 9 quake in the Nankai Trough, which would likely cause damage to all of western Japan. Without a doubt, we all need to be conscious that earthquakes of this scale will eventually occur.

Among the major earthquakes in Tokyo, the Great Kanto Earthquake is perhaps the most famous, and this year marks its 100th anniversary. The office of The Japan Times was affected by the disaster too, and it continued its reporting on the news from a temporary office set up at the brand-new Imperial Hotel (designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright). Since then, Japan has learned from its experiences and endeavored to build fire- and earthquake-resistant cities.

But what about us individuals? Have we all made the necessary mental preparations for disasters of this scale? This milestone year is an important opportunity for all of us to once again check stockpiles and evacuation routes with our family, friends and places of work.