Japan marked the 88th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake on Sept. 1 and is nearing six months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which devastated the Tohoku Pacific coastal areas. It is impossible to completely protect communities from damage caused by a major calamity, but serious efforts must be made to reduce as much as possible any such destruction.

In the Great Kanto Earthquake, which happened on Sept. 1, 1923 and devastated Tokyo and its adjacent areas, more than 100,000 people died, many of them from fires. After the quake, many fire-resistant buildings were constructed and many parks were built, which would serve as both firebreaks and evacuation sites. In addition, rezoning was carried out and wide roads were built in Tokyo, although efforts fell short of the original plan that envisaged large-scale reconstruction of the capital. Further improvement in the fire-resistant capabilities of buildings should not be forgotten.

The central and local governments concerned, especially those in the Tokai and western regions, must make preparations to cope with major quakes that are expected to come. A strong quake beneath or near Tokyo is anticipated. Major quakes are also expected to occur in the following areas — off Shizuoka Prefecture, off the Kii Peninsula and off Shikoku. It is feared that the three quakes may occur simultaneously or one after another.