ABSTRACT
The Sanriku Coast was the most severely damaged region in Japan due to the huge tsunami that followed the 2011 East Japan Earthquake. In the modern age, the coast suffered from big tsunamis in 1896, 1933, and 1960. Physical measures such as the construction of massive seawalls and breakwaters, and further measures such as hazard map making, evacuation drills, or establishing monuments, were done in every community on the coast. The experiences of the Sanriku Coast provide important lessons on the effectiveness of countermeasures against natural disasters, including tsunamis, in coastal regions. This entry outlines the 2011 East Japan tsunami disaster and the countermeasures for tsunamis on the Sanriku Coast.
