Japan is located on one of the most active earthquake belts in the world. We Japanese have small tremors so frequently that we usually don’t pay particular attention to them. But because we have had some terrible earthquakes in the past, we’ve always aware of the possibility of a major earthquake disaster in Japan. Particularly those of us who can remember the ones we’ve had have always aware of the possibility of a major earthquake disaster.
There was a major earthquake in 1923, called the Great Kanto Earthquake. It involved Tokyo and Yokohama. That earthquake measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. Since then, there have been some big earthquakes chronologically in Nagoya, Fukkui, Izu, Hokkaido, Kobe, Niigata, Iwate, Miyagi, and most recently, Kumamoto on April 14 and 16. Another major one in the Tokyo area is always a possibility. Medium scale earthquake occurred on May 16, 2016, in Kanto area. Most Japanese are likely to know what to do in case of an earthquake. But the occurence of two massive quakes of Kumamoto earthquake in quick succession in Kyushu area on April 14 and 16 were beyond expectations and unprecedented. Meteorological Agency of Japan said that the first big one was a main shock. But after 1 day, bigger one attacked. Therefore, Meteorological Agency amended that the first one was an aftershock and the seceond one was a main shock. The second earthquake measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. Active faults were also newly found in Kumamoto city by one Associate Professor of Hiroshima University.
Terms related to earthquake 地震に関する用語 ji-shin-ni-kan-su-ru-yo-go
| major quake | 大きな地震 o-ki-na-ji-shin |
| massive earthquake | 大きな地震 o-ki-na-ji-shin |
| strike | 襲う o-so-u |
| in quick succession | 矢継早に ya-tsu-gi-ba-ya-ni |
| main temblor [main shock] | 本震 hon-shin |
| offer silent prayer | 黙祷を捧げる mo-ku-to-u-wo-sa-sa-ge-ru |
| a moment of silence was held | 黙祷が捧げられた mo-ku-to-u-ga-sa-sa-ge-ra-re-ta |
| mudslide [landslide] | 土砂崩れ、地滑り do-sha-ku-zu-re, ji-su-be-ri |
| secure shelter [evacuation center] | 避難所 hi-nan-jo |
| temporary housing [dwelling] | 仮設住宅 ka-se-tsu-ju-ta-ku |
| evacuee | 避難者 hi-nan-sha |
| downplay | 控え目に扱う hi-ka-e-me-ni-a-tu-ka-u |
| 1500 seismic events | 1500の地震事象[地震イベント] sen-go-hya-ku-no-ji-shin-ji-sho |
| Meteorological Agency | 気象庁 ki-sho-cho |
| casualties [victims] | 犠牲者 gi-se-i-sha |
| large-scale landslide | 大規模崩落 da-i-ki-bo-ho-u-ra-ku |
| stand at 〜 | (数字が)〜である de-a-ru |
| combined death | (震災)関連死 sin-sa-i-kan-ren-shi |
| remain unaccounted for | 不明のままである hu-me-i-no-ma-ma-de-a-ru |
| be feared | 危惧される ki-gu-sa-re-ru |
CONTENTS
Mt. Aso (Aso San) viewed from Minami-Aso Village
April 6 12:31
Yomineyama on April 6, 2016, before ccurrence of Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:30
Yomineyama on May 18, 2016. Marks of large landslide because of Kumamoto Earthquake occurred on April 16 are seen.
April 6 12:28
Okamadoyama on April 6, 2016, before ccurrence of Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:30
Okamadoyama (middle) and Eboshidake (left) on May 18, 2016. Marks of large landslide because of Kumamoto Earthquake occurred on April 16 are seen.
April 6 12:28
Takadake on April 6, 2016, before ccurrence of Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:30
Takadake on May 18, 2016. Marks of large landslide because of Kumamoto Earthquake occurred on April 16 are seen.
April 6 12:45
Nekodake on April 6, 2016, before ccurrence of Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:30
Nekodake on May 18, 2016. Marks of large landslide because of Kumamoto Earthquake occurred on April 16 are seen.
April 6 12:47
Isshingyo-No-Oozakura (center of the photograph) viewed from Michinoeki Asobo-No-Sato Kuginoe on April 6, 2016, before ccurrence of Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:31
Isshingyo-No-Oozakura viewed from Michinoeki Asobo-No-Sato Kuginoe on May 18, 2016 after Kumamoto Earthquake.
May 18 13:38
We bought cones and ate at Michinoeki Asobo-No-Sato Kuginoe. Reinforcing milk feeling!
May 18 13:47
Guide plate at the wood deck of Michinoeki Asobo-No-Sato Kugino. (From left to right:) Yomineyama, Eboshidake, Okamadoyama, Nakadake, Takadake, and Nekodake.
April 6 14:30
Surface of mountain viewed from the parking area of convenience store LAWSON near Isshingyo-No-Oozakura. Signs of landslides are seen.
May 18 14:41
Photo (left of successive 3 photos) of Aso-San taken from Green Road on our way home. Beautiful landscape of Minami-Aso Village. From left: Yomineyama, Eboshidake and Okamadoyama.
May 18 14:41
Photo (middle of successive 3 photos) of Aso-San taken from Green Road on our way home. Beautiful landscape of Aso-San and Minami-Aso Village.
May 18 14:41
Photo (right of successive 3 photos) of Aso-San taken from Green Road on our way home. Takadake (middle) and Nekodake (right).
