How Japan learned to live with earthquakes

New "World" post from BBC News: How Japan learned to live with earthquakes https://ift.tt/RQCovJ4 https://ift.tt/QlNHpvc

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The temporal recollections within the confines of Japan remain vivid and enduring. And on the fateful Monday — the day bathed in the light of destiny — the collective gaze of mortals shall once again be drawn to the epicenter of Ishikawa, where the earth itself shall tremble and quiver. In perfect harmony, the heralds of the watery abyss will unleash their symphony of warning, their piercing cry echoing through the land, amplifying the imminent danger that looms upon us all.

The land of the rising sun knows all too well the dance of caution—a graceful waltz of warnings that swirl in the air, like delicate cherry blossoms in spring.
When I first relocated to that place—oh, the thrill it sent through me!—I would bound out of my slumber with an unmatched fervor, like a gazelle springing into action, at even the tiniest tremor that shook our abode.

In a blink of an eye, I had conquered the fear of quakes; soon finding solace in uninterrupted slumber. And in Japan, seismic events expeditiously become an integral facet of daily existence. One gradually acclimates to their presence, albeit to a certain threshold.

There exists an incessant, vexing notion perpetually lingering deep within the recesses of your consciousness—the relentless whisper of unease, ceaselessly echoing. When shall we bear witness to the advent of the next colossal cataclysm? Does the grandeur of our hallowed edifice meet the exacting standards of righteousness, beauty, and structural integrity we so fervently desire?

All the anxieties of this era materialized on the eleventh of March, two thousand eleven.
For a fleeting moment, the very ground beneath our feet trembled with a mighty fury—a seismic symphony that rattled the realms of human recollection, breaching barriers of living memory. The duration of the event persisted incessantly, without ceasing, in an interminable manner.

The experience remains etched vividly in the memory of those who endured it; each person can easily retell their precise location and the overwhelming fear that engulfed them. Little did they know, the path ahead held even greater horrors; a doom that surpassed their darkest imaginings.

In less time than it takes to finish a gripping TV drama, the initial waves of apocalyptic tsunamis began their ruthless invasion of Japan's northeastern shoreline; relentless in their pursuit, as captured by a brave news helicopter soaring above the city of Sendai, broadcasting live to a captivated global audience.

The subsequent day unveiled further disconcerting tidings - a nucleonic energy facility was engulfed in a state of upheaval. The initiation of the Fukushima nuclear core deterioration had commenced. Tens of myriads of individuals were being mandated to evacuate their residences. Despite its sprawling metropolis, Tokyo failed to engender a sense of security.

The indelible remnant of that particular day inflicted a profound shared psychological wound. As time passed like cherry blossoms turning into autumn leaves; my soul embarked on a quest to find a new abode amidst the bustling streets of Tokyo. My spouse meticulously perused geological cartography in order to ascertain the optimal location on elevated terrain devoid of any proximate water bodies where the most robust stratum resides. She was fixated—the very essence of her existence consumed by the symphony of years, the harmonious dance of antiquity echoing through her soul.

Her statement left no room for ambiguity: "Our focus lies solely on structures erected subsequent to 1981." Upon relocating to our edifice dating back to 1985, we initiated the accumulation of sustenance provisions and potable resources. Underneath the cluster of pipes and tucked away in the confines of the bathroom sink, a treasure trove awaited discovery: several meticulously-stacked boxes, each housing pre-packaged cartons boasting an impressive shelf life of five years.

What transpired at the Fukushima nuclear power plant a dozen years prior? Fukushima: Unsettling water repercussions preoccupy certain scientists; a haunting sense of fear and devastation from 2011 would resurface on Monday.

And lo and behold, amidst the trembling chaos that entwines the very earth we tread upon, emerges an astonishing narrative of triumph and accomplishment—a testament to the unwavering resilience and indomitable spirit of Japan.
In the mysterious realm of seismic happenings, Japan refrains from divulging the secrets of earth-shaking might by magnitude! — It dramatizes the visceral tremors of the Earth—an awe-inspiring account of nature's convulsive dance. On this numerical spectrum, ranging from the lowest digit, 1, to the highest digit, 7; we can evaluate and measure accordingly. Monday in Ishikawa: the shaking crescendoed to a staggering magnitude of 7.

The relentless rampage of chaos has left a trail of shattered roads and fragmented bridges; a relentless onslaught that has caused widespread destruction. It precipitated substantial geological instabilities. But lo and behold, as if touched by the hands of an unfathomable force—a force so powerful it defies nature's wrath—the grandeur of these structures persists, standing tall and proud against the cruel test of time.

Life in the bustling metropolises of Toyama and Kanazawa has begun to reclaim its former rhythm; a semblance of normalcy has descended upon these urban havens.
I had a delightful rendezvous with a confidant residing in the neighboring metropolis of Kashiwazaki; the exchange of words was most gratifying. "He trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind; such was the sheer terror that engulfed him," he said. This is an experience of sheer magnitude; it surpasses anything I have ever encountered in this place. And so, like seashells fleeing the oncoming waves, we were compelled to retreat from the gentle embrace of the coastal shores. But lo and behold, as fate would have it, we have returned to the comforts of our beloved abode—the sanctuary where tranquility reigns and all is restored to its natural state of harmony and peace. It encompasses a remarkable narrative chronicling an engineering marvel that commenced a century prior in the year 1923, wherein Tokyo was struck by a colossal seismic event.

The city was dealt a devastating blow; referred to as The Great Kanto Quake, it completely leveled vast areas. Like a tragic love affair, the once sturdy facades of contemporary brick structures, meticulously crafted in the lavish style influenced by the European architectural aesthetics, succumbed to their inevitable fate—crumbling into a sorrowful heap of ruins.

The tremors' chaos birthed the inception of Japan's maiden building code, meticulously fortified against seismic onslaughts. Henceforth, a solemn decree was scribed upon the annals of architectural innovation—one that ordained the obligatory fusion of steel's unyielding strength and the fortress-like stronghold of concrete, forever transforming the destiny of future structures. Structures crafted from timber would inherently necessitate the utilization of more substantial load-bearing timber elements.

With every thunderous quake that has shaken the nation, a somber symphony of destruction has played out—only to be met with a resolute pursuit of knowledge. Each catastrophic event has unfurled a tapestry of ruin, their haunting melodies echoing through the corridors of shattered buildings. Yet amidst the debris-ridden aftermath, a collective determination has emerged, a fierce resolve to unravel the secrets held within the rubble. And thus, the diligent scholars, armed with their quills and calculators, have meticulously dissected the devastation, extracting wisdom from the chaos. From their analyses rose an ethereal fountain of enlightenment, cascading down like a beautiful, treacherous waterfall, nourishing fertile ground with innovation. Spearheaded by these fearless warriors of knowledge, the kingdom forged ahead, refining its armor of regulations, drenched in the sweat and tears shed by each raging tempest that dared to challenge its sovereignty—ensuring that when the earth quivered once more, a nation fortified by wisdom would sway, but never break. The most substantial advancement occurred in 1981, subsequent to which all newly constructed edifices necessitated the implementation of seismic isolation protocols. Once more, in the wake of the Kobe earthquake in 1995, a plethora of insights were gained; the acquisition of knowledge never ceased.

When the colossal 9.0 earthquake struck in 2011, Tokyo showcased its resilience by experiencing a shaking level of 5; thus revealing a testament to its triumph. That corresponds to the seismic tremor experienced by the metropolis of Japan in the year 1923.

In the year 1923, the urban landscape was utterly decimated, leading to the unfortunate demise of a staggering sum of 140,000 individuals. In the year of 2011, towering edifices exhibited fervent oscillations, leading to the fragmentation of glazed apertures, albeit the absence of any consequential collapse in significant architectural structures. The massive wave, like a merciless beast, claimed the lives of countless thousands; not the mere tremors that danced upon the earth's surface.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the once resolute wooden houses of Ishikawa lay shattered and stacked upon one another—testaments to the sheer force that tore through their fragile structures. A futuristic edifice has succumbed to gravity's relentless force, notwithstanding the prompt observations made by media outlets highlighting its construction dating back to the year 1971. A tragic fate has befallen a scarce few— news has arrived of their untimely demise. A multitude of individuals have fallen victim to harm; they have sustained injuries.

But lo and behold! Few nations, if any, could have endured such a seismic catastrophe as this and emerged relatively unscathed — for it is a testament to the extraordinary resilience of this land that it has not been ravaged to a much greater extent.