ABSTRACT
The risks posed by a mega-earthquake and tsunami along the Pacific coastal regions of Japan represent the most important threat to Japan’s future. This chapter summarizes the history of disaster management in Japan and points out the severe consequences should a magnitude 9.0 Nankai Trough triple earthquake take place. Rather than devote enormous budgets to the building of gigantic sea walls around the coast I argue that the government should support community-led efforts such as hazard mapping and disaster drills. In the event of a large-scale disaster, special attention to the continuity of smart-phone communications, information for non-Japanese residents and visitors, and arrangements for evacuees should be considered.
