Earthquakes

Many parts of Japan have experienced devastating earthquakes and tidal waves in the past. The worst earthquake in Japanese history hit the Kanto plain around Tokyo in the year 1923, when over 100,000 people died in the great Kanto earthquake.

In January 1995 a strong earthquake hit the city of Kobe and surroundings. The Southern Hyogo earthquake (also called great Hanshin earthquake)killed 6000 and injured 415000 people. 100,000 houses were completely destroyed and 185,000 partially destroyed.