What Tokyo learned from the tragic 1923 Kanto earthquake

Visitors to the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park see displays on the likely impact of major tremors. (Image: Bloomberg)

Bloomberg

Sun, 03 Sep 2023

By Shoko OdaSept 1 marked a century since a magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo, leaving some 100,000 people dead or missing and much of the city destroyed by fire. Government experts see a 70% chance of a magnitude-7 earthquake taking place right underneath the capital within the next three decades, which could cost 95 trillion yen (NZ$1.08t) in economic damages, according to estimates. That looming threat keeps Tokyo on its toes. Last year it earmarked 15 trillion yen for natural disaster resiliency pr...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}