Japan conducts massive earthquake-tsunami drill on Disaster Prevention Day
Tokyo officials staged a simulated magnitude 8.3 quake off eastern Hokkaido and a resulting tsunami to test response procedures on Disaster Prevention Day.
On the anniversary of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, Japan held a nationwide disaster-prevention drill simulating an 8.3-magnitude earthquake off eastern Hokkaido and the ensuing tsunami that would travel to Tokyo. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi attended a coordinated exercise in Atsugi, Kanagawa, alongside nine municipal governments, the Self-Defense Forces, police and medical institutions.
U.S. military personnel participated in medical-relief activities during the drill. The scenario was designed to evaluate initial response steps, including damage assessment, as Japan still deals with the fallout from a recent 7.1-magnitude quake in Kumamoto and damage caused by heavy rains. The event underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen national resilience against large-scale natural hazards.
Why it matters
The drill tests Japan's readiness for major earthquakes and tsunamis, crucial for protecting millions in a seismically active nation.
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