Today when we talk about living in Japan, some people comment on the fear of living there because of earthquakes and tidal waves. How can you overcome earthquake fear? In this article, we will leave some tips and strategies that will help you overcome this fear.
Is it really necessary to have this earthquake fear in Japan? Many people are afraid of earthquakes, but they don't understand that bad things can happen anywhere. I myself think that it is easier for us to die from an earthquake in Brazil, since the buildings and houses here are not prepared like those in Japan.
Fear can make us think danger is imminent, even when we are perfectly safe.
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Is it necessary to be afraid of an earthquake in Japan?
It is normal to worry about our safety, but sometimes people have exaggerated fears, such as the fear of the plane, which is the safest transport in the world, or fear of crime, etc. But one of the fears that most bothers people when talking about Japan is the fear of earthquake. Is it really dangerous to live in Japan?
I'm writing this article because really, when Japan is the subject of conversation, people tend to talk about earthquakes and tsunamis as if it's something constant and that kills millions of people. They still say that they would never have the courage to live in Japan because of earthquakes. Let's analyze some facts to make people safer on this subject.
In the video below I explain why it is not necessary to be afraid of an earthquake in Japan:
Earthquakes are not dangerous
Japan is a set of over 6,000 islands and has more than 118 volcanoes, this is one of the main reasons for the constant earthquakes and tsunamis. Throughout Japan's history, we have had major earthquakes that cause many deaths and damage to the country. But are these disasters reasons for you not to go to Japan?
Japan is also super prepared against possible disasters. Houses and buildings are made in such a way as not to be toppled by earthquakes. But still, the unforeseen can happen, so we can never be 100% safe, nor know whether or not we are going to witness a great disaster that can end our lives.
But if you are afraid of death, then you don't need to be afraid of living in Japan. Earthquakes, although they happen constantly, do not cause any damage. Most of the disaster deaths in Japan are caused by tsunamis that occur rarely and will only reach you if you are near the sea.
Ending Earthquake Fear Through Statistics
When someone questions my desire to live in Japan, talking about the danger of earthquakes, I usually answer that in Brazil every year more people are killed than during 20 years of history with earthquakes and tidal waves in Japan.
It is worth remembering that the earthquake (in Japanese it is called jishin 地震) is not the cause of most of these reported deaths, but the tsunamis or fires. Perhaps living far from the coast is a way to lessen your fear of earthquakes in Japan.
Below we will leave the earthquake and tsunami death statistics of all the incidents that caused deaths along with specific details of each of them.
Japan earthquake statistics
See how less than 8000 people died due to earthquakes in Japan over the last 100 years. A much smaller number than the deaths caused in Brazil every year.
| Date | Region | Depth | Magnitude | deaths |
| 01/16/1995 | Sudoeste de Honshu (Kobe, Awaji-Shima, Nishinomiya) | 52 km | 6.9 | 5502 |
| 03/11/2011 | Honshu | 24 km | 9.1 | 1475 |
| 03/21/1982 | Hokkaido, Urakawa, Hiroo | 7 km | 6.7 | 110 |
| 05/16/1968 | Ao largo da costa leste da Ilha de Honshu | 55 km | 8.2 | 52 |
| 04/15/2016 | Kumamoto, Oita | 22 km | 7.0 | 50 |
| 09/05/2018 | Hokkaido | 35 km | 6.6 | 44 |
| 10/23/2004 | Honshu (Niigata Prefecture) | 6.6 | 40 | |
| 03/04/1952 | Hokkaido | 41 km | 8.1 | 33 |
| 05/08/1974 | Nakagi | 25 km | 6.5 | 30 |
| 09/13/1984 | Honshu (Central: Mt Ontake) | 49 km | 6.1 | 29 |
| 06/12/1978 | Sanriku | 26 km | 7.7 | 28 |
| 06/16/1964 | Honshu (Costa Oeste) | 44 km | 7.5 | 26 |
| 01/14/1978 | Tokkaido, Oshima | 39 km | 6.6 | 25 |
| 07/12/1993 | Hokkaido; Russia (Sudeste; Coreia do Sul) | 11 km | 7.7 | 23 |
| 08/06/1984 | Kyushu (Nobeoka) | 38 km | 6.7 | 20 |
| 06/13/2008 | Honshu (Tóquio) | 45 km | 6.9 | 13 |
| 08/19/1961 | Honshu (Costa Oeste) | 7.3 | 10 | |
| 07/16/2007 | Honshu (Costa Oeste) | 22 km | 6.6 | 9 |
| 04/11/2011 | Honshu | 12 km | 6.6 | 7 |
| 06/17/2018 | Osaka | 10 km | 5.5 | 5 |
| 05/26/1983 | Honshu (Akita) | 59 km | 7.7 | 4 |
| 04/07/2011 | Próximo à costa leste de Honshu | 43 km | 7.1 | 3 |
| 12/28/1994 | Honshu | 23 km | 7.8 | 3 |
| 02/21/1968 | Kyushu | 6.3 | 3 | |
| 03/24/2001 | Hiroshima, Okayama, Honshu, Kagama | 53 km | 6.8 | 2 |
| 01/15/1993 | Hokkaido, Kushiro, Hachinohe, Honshu | 5 km | 7.6 | 2 |
| 12/17/1987 | Honshu (Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo) | 19 km | 6.0 | 2 |
| 03/18/1987 | Kyushu (Miyazaki, Naze) | 30 km | 6.7 | 2 |
| 09/24/1980 | Tokyo, Yokohama | 24 km | 6.0 | 2 |
| 08/03/1974 | Honshu (Kakiota, Mito, Tokyo) | 34 km | 5.7 | 2 |
| 02/26/1961 | Miyazaki | 48 km | 7.3 | 2 |
| 02/13/2021 | Off Fukushima | 49 km | 7.1 | 1 |
| 08/10/2009 | Honshu (South Coast) | 9 km | 6.4 | 1 |
| 07/23/2008 | Honshu | 19 km | 6.8 | 1 |
| 03/25/2007 | Honshu (Costa Oeste) | 57 km | 6.7 | 1 |
| 03/20/2005 | Kyushu (Fukuoka, Genkai) | 41 km | 6.6 | 1 |
| 07/01/2000 | Near the South Coast of Honshu (Kozu-Shima) | 55 km | 6.1 | 1 |
| 08/08/1983 | Honshu (South Coast) | 57 km | 5.3 | 1 |
| 04/01/1968 | Kyushu, Shikoku | 4 km | 7.5 | 1 |
| 04/19/1965 | Aichi, Shizouka Prefecture | 58 km | 6.0 | 1 |
| 04/30/1962 | Honshu (Sendai) | 30 km | 6.8 | 1 |
| 11/25/1953 | Kashima | 7.4 | 1 |
Tsunami statistics in Japan
The statistic below shows the date, location, magnitude, meters of height and number of deaths from the tsunami. We have data dating back more than 500 years, but in the last 100 years only 17,000 died by tsunami, a number much lower than the annual murders in Brazil.
| Date | Place | Magnitude | meters | deaths |
| 09/20/1498 | sea of Enshunada | 8 | 10 m | 31.201 |
| 04/24/1771 | Ryukyu Islands | 7 | 85.40 m | 25.427 |
| 06/15/1896 | Sanriku | 8 | 38.20 m | 18.802 |
| 03/11/2011 | honshu island | 9 | 55.88 m | 15.950 |
| 05/21/1792 | Shimabara Bay | Volcano | 55 m | 5343 |
| 03/02/1933 | Sanriku | 8 | 29 years old | 3022 |
| 10/28/1707 | Nankaido | 8 | 25.70 m | 2787 |
| 05/20/1751 | Honshu | 6.6 | 2 m | 2100 |
| 12/24/1854 | Nankaido | 8 | 28 m | 1724 |
| 08/29/1741 | Hokkaido | 6 | 90 m | 1607 |
| 12/30/1703 | Boso | 8 | 11.70 m | 1497 |
| 10/28/1707 | Enshunada | 8 | 11 m | 1000 |
| 09/01/1923 | Sagami Bay | 7 | 13 m | 574 |
| 12/20/1946 | Honshu: S Coast | 8 | 6.6 m | 288 |
| 12/23/1854 | sea of Enshunada | 8 | 21 m | 268 |
| 07/12/1993 | sea of japan | 7 | 32 anos | 181 |
| 05/26/1983 | Noshiro | 7.8 | 14.93 m | 47 |
| 12/07/1944 | Kii Peninsula | 8 | 10 m | 40 |
| 08/01/1940 | Hokkaido | 7 | 3 m | 10 |
| 09/25/2003 | Hokkaido | 8 | 4.4 m | 2 |
| 05/28/1938 | Hokkaido | 6 | 0.90 m | 1 |
How to overcome fear of earthquake?
Saying these things to someone who has never been through this is easy, but what about those who are already scared to death and have suffered trauma? We need to face our psychological fear, the tips below may be helpful:
- The key to dealing with any fear is to accept it and admit it;
- Question your negative thoughts and exaggerated ideas;
- Always be prepared for the earthquake;
- Let go of your material possessions and value your life;
- Stop thinking about the future and live in the present!
- List situations of your fear and face it!
Remember that the unforeseen befall everyone! There are thousands of other ways to die and suffer besides earthquakes!
I don't want to scare anyone with these comments, but being afraid of these unforeseen events can increase our strength, make us prepared and also increase the value of our life.
How to prepare for an earthquake in Japan?
The final tips below will help you prepare against earthquakes and finally get over that exaggerated fear.
- Make sure water heaters are fixed and heavy objects on the floor or on the lower shelves;
- Avoid placing heavy objects such as televisions in high places.
Leave the exit path clear; - For a moment, stop and think before acting;
- Furniture such as cabinets, shelves, drawers must be fixed to the wall or ceiling;
- have one at home kit first aid kit and earthquake kit;
- Teach family members to turn off electricity, gas and water;
- Look for the best way out of the dangerous situation;
- Teach family members to stay away from doors, mirrors, and hide under the table;
- Have a portable radio on hand with charged batteries;
- Do rehearsals and remember to always keep calm;
- Inform yourself at the city hall where the safest place for emergencies is in your neighborhood;
The real danger is the Tsunami
The biggest cause of death is the tsunami, responsible for killing 20,000 people in 2011. Throughout the years of Japan's history, only tsunamis and fires have caused such fatalities, and this happened because the technology and houses were not prepared for these events. In the last 10 years, this was the only event responsible for a large number of deaths.
Is this really a big number? Yes, it's a considerable number, but it's no reason to be afraid of Japan. In Brazil, 100,000 people lose their lives every year because of crime and recklessness in traffic. While Japan does not reach these numbers even in 20 years.
Just as we wear seat belts in a car to prevent accidents, if you live in Japan or plan to visit, you should be aware of the risks and take safety precautions. Now you're going to stop driving just because the car causes accidents? The number of cars kills far more in the world than these small earthquakes.
So if you want to go to Japan, but you're afraid of an earthquake, know that disasters can happen. However, you shouldn't be afraid of Japan just because earthquakes happen there. If you are going to die, you can die of anything at any time, especially if you live in Brazil.