On the night of December 8, a strong earthquake struck Japan, with its epicenter in Aomori Prefecture. As approximately 50 hours have already passed since the event, many readers outside Japan may have been able to confirm the safety of their friends and acquaintances in the country.
In this column, I would like to reflect on the earthquake.
Fortunately, despite the fact that the earthquake reached a maximum intensity of 6-upper on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s seismic scale—a very powerful level of shaking—no fatalities have been reported. An intensity of 6-upper is comparable to levels recorded in many areas during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (the maximum at that time was 7). As in 2011, a tsunami was also generated, but lessons learned from that disaster appear to have led to swift evacuations, preventing large-scale damage.
At the same time, one fire has been reported, and as of 8:00 a.m. on December 10 (Japan time), more than 50 people have been injured. I would like to express my sincere sympathy to all those affected by this disaster.
About five hours before the earthquake occurred, I was speaking online with a writer who lives in Aomori after he reached out to me to discuss work-related matters. Shortly after our conversation ended, the major earthquake struck, which was deeply shocking. I have confirmed his safety, but he told me that objects in his room were scattered and that relatively strong aftershocks are continuing.
Following this earthquake, the “Post-Earthquake Advisory Information” system, which began operation three years ago, was activated. This advisory warns of the possibility of a larger subsequent earthquake and calls for heightened caution among municipalities located along the Pacific coast of eastern Japan.
Readers with friends or acquaintances in the affected areas may be feeling concerned. To those readers, I would like to convey that, apart from the regions directly impacted by the earthquake, there has been no major disruption across Japan as a whole. As a result, there is reason to expect that the deployment of necessary supplies and support will proceed without significant delays.
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent earthquakes themselves, even if a larger one were to occur in the future. In this respect, it is essential for the Japanese people and those living in Japan to take individual preparedness measures.
To readers outside Japan, I would be grateful if you could offer your prayers—so that a larger earthquake does not occur, or, should one occur, that it will not result in devastating damage. During the Great East Japan Earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI sent a message of prayer to the Catholic faithful in Japan. Buddhists, Protestants, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, followers of other faiths, and those with no religious affiliation in Japan would all deeply appreciate it if you could take even one second to pray or hold Japan in your thoughts.
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