Japan has a long history of withstanding natural disasters. According to the CIA World Factbook, the island country is more susceptible to the disturbances because it is located in one of the most seismically active regions of the world, and it is surrounded by the Sea of Japan and North Pacific Ocean. Earthquakes and tsunamis are the most common and devastating natural events, but volcanic eruptions, landslides, and flooding also add to the unstable nature of Japan’s climate.
Great Japan Earthquake of 1923 Source: http://www.smithsonianmag.com
The Great Japan Earthquake of 1923 has almost destroyed capital city of Tokyo. Similar situation occurred in the aftermath of the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in the city of Kobe. This natural disaster has claimed lives of more than 6,000 people and injured about 43,000 residents; it is also resulted in massive destruction of the city’s infrastructure and economic loss.
Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011 Source: madison.com
The most recent Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011, is known across the globe not only for the number of human lives it took, but also because it triggered Fukushima nuclear plant destruction and contamination of air, soil, and water with the radioactive materials. So why Japan’s communities including aforementioned nuclear power plant are rebuilt even though they are likely to be affected by a similar event in the future?
There is a number of disadvantages associated with the community restoration after the disasters. First of all, the majority of Japan’s urban centers are located in the coastal areas where there is a higher chance for the tsunami to strike again and destroy newly rebuilt households and businesses. Coastal infrastructure is more likely to be damaged and, as a result, pollute environment with industrial debris and even radioactive waste.
Second, densely packed populations of the coastal towns are directly affected by the frequent natural events. Earthquakes and tsunamis result in the loss of human lives, disabilities, increased incidence of diseases, property damage, and psychological distress. Since the majority of Japanese choose to live at the coastal communities, they are more likely to experience adverse events over and over.
Finally, it is important to mention environmental damage caused by the recurrent disasters. Extreme climatic events result in soil erosion and water pollution and can also trigger irreversible changes in the local ecosystems including animals and plants.
However, Japan keeps rising from the ashes and strives to rebuild itself regardless of what nature throws its way. This enviable persistence in bouncing back from devastation is Japan’s historical trait. Country’s main urban areas were strategically built by the sea due to the political, economical and social reasons. There are more coastal communities in Japan due to the country’s rugged inland terrain that is not particularly suitable for building settlements. Other reason behind the chosen location was to provide people with easy access to the maritime ports and fishing grounds and secure nation’s borders from the foreign invasion. Therefore, locals had no choice, but to adapt to the given climate and geography and quickly rebuilt after earthquakes.
Kyomizu dera temple, UNESCO World Heritage site, is an example of traditional pagoda architecture resilient to the earthquakes. http://www.ryokan-yachiyo.com
Aside from the traditional building techniques that even compete with modern technologies in terms of resilience, reconstruction of the settlements and infrastructure has an economical advantage. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has announced that Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will be reopened along with other facilities across the country. Although this decision is opposed by many people, local nuclear energy will allow Japan to decrease expensive imports of natural gas, coal, and oil and invest into clean energy production.
No doubt, Japan knows a thing or two about reinvention. The country has been rebuilding itself for centuries trying to adapt to the ever-changing climate and preserve heritage sites untouched by the disasters. Although one can argue that reconstructing communities destroyed by the tsunamis and earthquakes may seem Sisyphean, there are multiple legitimate reasons behind Japan’s persistence with continuous restoration of the damaged properties.
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