How to overcome the fear of earthquake in Japan?

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.

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 more than 6,000 islands and has more than 118 volcanoes, this is one of the main reasons for the constant earthquakes and tsunamis. During the history of Japan we have had large 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're afraid of death, then you don't have to be afraid of living in Japan. Earthquakes although they happen constantly, they do not cause any damage. Most disaster deaths in Japan are caused by tsunamis that happen rarely and will only reach you if you are close to 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 (W Coast)	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 (W Coast)		7.3	10
07/16/2007	Honshu (W Coast)	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 Perfecture, 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 (W Coast)	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.

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

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. Over the years of Japan's history, only tsunamis and fires caused so many deaths, and this was because technology and homes 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.