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Tokyo prepares for the 'Big One'

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© 2012 AFP

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scary stuff indeed...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"The Big One" concerning Tokyo, at least, is predicted in Tokyo Bay.

This article mixes up a few different predictions, all of different locations.

Wish they would make it clearer.

Scary stuff though.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Experts said there is a 70% chance of a quake at or above 7.0 hitting Tokyo in the next 4 years, so we will find out. Hopefully, the government would have decided on a new BACK UP capital by then, like they plan to.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This is coming sooner than anybody thinks.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Hope it doesnt occur in the games of the XXXII olympiad if they get it, as by 1964 no major tremor occurred there

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Party like it's 1999??

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The cost of relocating residents in this area is going to be exorbitant and also the residents preferred to stay put, as an alternative the Government should provide more funding for research in a more advance form of earthquake detection system that allow a longer lead time for residence to evacuate when this big one hit.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

"To deal with that problem, residents regularly participate in fire drills in the shadow of the newly constructed Tokyo Skytree—the world’s tallest tower at 634 meters."

When are they going to get this right? It is NOT the world's tallest tower, but the world's tallest COMMUNICATIONS tower!

Anyway, it's scary stuff indeed, and I don't think any amount of prep would truly prep anyone for the reality if such a quake. It's good they are making efforts and raising awareness, though. Let's hope it doesn't happen for some time yet.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Man please everyone be ok im scared for everyone else in japan i really hope everything will be ok

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Definitely is scary stuff. Tokyo has been lucky in not getting hit directly. I hope the luck continues!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Tokyo is prepared?? Sure, we are really prepared for?? The Big One?? I do not think so!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Redcliff, such a device already exists on phones and PCs powered by Weathernews Inc., though it's only a one minute countdown at max. Doubt anyone will be safer with such a short notice.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

At an antiques market yesterday and found a magazine photo essay on the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Had a quick flick through it, but actually too sad/depressing to look at the destruction, so didn't buy it.

Now thinking that perhaps I should have bought it.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I am sure 'the big one' is enevitable, but when it will happen cannot be predicted. The Kansas quake struck early in the morning while most people were still in their beds. If it was later when most people were at work the death toll would have been much lower. Preparing for the big one is impossible. People spend 60-70% of their time in the workplace, which should be the focus of their preparedness. I have prepared an emergency kit at my workplace and I also have one at home. However, the irony is, I would probably be between both places if it does happen. The March 11 quake was a good wake up call for the Tokyo authorities, but they are missing the point. It is not so much what will happen in the quake, but what will happen in the weeks following the quake. That is the most important issue. Stop worrying about the dead and start worrying about the survivors.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The communications tower would play a key role in any future disaster with mobile cameras that monitor the area and could help ease a large-scale evacuation, says Koji Sudo, head of Sumida’s disaster-prevention unit.

Assuming it doesn't topple over!

-5 ( +2 / -8 )

This is coming sooner than anybody thinks.

Or later, or never at all, or...

The point is, you don't know!

Isn't this 'Big One' 10 years+ overdue as it is?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

fear is worse than the actual event....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

@ Patric Spohn

That's what I am getting at this is not good enough.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Rupert Sanders The government cannot predict an earthquake a hour before it happens. So how can they predict one decades before it happens? Well? Answer that question?

I am not saying there is no chance it will happen, life is just a risk here, a risk worth living.

If it does happen, remember your earthquake training people.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Worse case scenario is based on old experiences and unreliable. I am surprised the worse case scenario does not include likelihood of a damaged nuke plant (due to earthquake or otherwise) spewing dangerous radiation into the atmosphere and food chain!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Sumida-ku is a great place, love it's old parts and it's hidey holes. When the March 11th one hit the area I was near kinshicho and had to huff it to Taito-ku.

Walked around some of those old areas to make my way home. To my surprise the buildings that looked worse for wear were the buildings that went up around the 1970s. The older and newer ones appeared to have survived fairly well.

As for Skytree and it's safety, saw it being built and was very impressed by what I saw. As a young lad I grew up around construction and had to get my hands dirty more than once at a young age. My Father owned a construction company and I had to learn the business.

It's a very safe building and it would take a real monster to bring it down.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

smithinjapanOct. 29, 2012 - 11:07AM JST When are they going to get this right? It is NOT the world's tallest tower, but the world's tallest COMMUNICATIONS tower!

This is from wikipedia;

Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー Tōkyō Sukaitsurī?) is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010[2] and reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011, making it the tallest tower in the world, displacing the Canton Tower,[3][4] and the second tallest structure in the world after Burj Khalifa (829.8 m/2,722 ft).

All towers are basically communication towers.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I have done my prep, left Tokyo slowly but surely over the years & now live & work without having to go into the city except once in a while, its the only way to up the odds in ones favor

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Experts said there is a 70% chance of a quake at or above 7.0 hitting Tokyo in the next 4 years

Experts have been saying that for at least the last 10 years. Tokyo is due, there's very little doubt about that but there will be a 70% chance of it happening right up until the minute before it actually happens. And that could be 4 years from now, 20 years from now or tomorrow.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

How about some love for Edogawa ward? It's about as "shitamachi" as it gets!!!!!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Here in Ryogoku, lots of repair work is just about finished. Really appreciate the comments from other fellow "shitomachi-nin" above!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The Kansai quake struck early in the morning while most people were still in their beds. If it was later when most people were at work the death toll would have been much lower. "

I totally disagree. Take a look at photographs of the expressway that basically fell over, and look into what happened in the subway. If trains and roads were packed later in the day the death toll would have been worse I think.

Basically, my advice is that if you live in a place like in the photo, I'd move. No matter how many fire drills and evacuation drills you have, the reality is that many people will be trapped in houses, and in alleys like that and won't be able to escape if fires start - and they probably will. I know of someone who did the predictions of what would happen in places like that once fires started. He moved out of Tokyo.

If you live in Tokyo, pick where you live and where you work. What kind of building you live in and what's next to it, but realize that if on the day the big one comes you're visiting a fragile place you might be in trouble.

iow, decide whether or not you want to live in Tokyo, plan for the worst, but then get on with enjoying life.

If a really big earthquake hits it won't be fun and if there's a problem now with getting people to hospitals imagine what it will be like on the day.

If Ishihara didn't quit, I was going to suggest to him that every student learn first aid.

Anyway, we will get through it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Are they going to get rid of the poorly constructed buildings and other structures? No- then you are not prepared.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There was talk several years back about moving the capital to Sendai but was dismissed because all of the major companies would have to move there too just so they would have their headquarters in the capital.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Tokaimura NPP just 120 km northwest of Tokyo is one of the most dangerous NPP in Japan as far as TOKYO residents are concerned, having the MOX fuel which contains plutonium blended with natural uranium, reprocessed uranium, or depleted uranium.

It is just about 30 km north of Chosi, Chiba which has one of the most active fault after the 3/11 earthquake.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What a collection of bla, bla, bla hogwash.

There is no such thing as an earthquake prediction.

You want to be sure that you will not die in one, pack your suitcase. That is the only thing that you can actually know about the dangers of earthquakes. (Of course unless you want to sell something....)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I spoke to a woman who went to school to study earthquake prediction and she dumped it after 2 years. This was because earthquakes by nature are unpredictable.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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