Books on earthquakes

1. "Newton Mook: Threats of Large Earthquakes" (in Japanese), Newton Press (2001). ISBN 4-315-51606-6
2. "On 40th Anniversary of Great Kanto Earthquake" (in Japanese), Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Association (1963)
3. Special Edition: Worst case -- Great earthquake ruins Tokyo (in Japanese), Newton, 20, 10, Newton Press, Tokyo (2000)
4. Oike: "Japan that Entered the Seismically Active Period" (in Japanese), Iwanami-Shoten (1995). ISBN 4-00-006533-5
5. Ikeda, et al.: "A Primer on Active Faults in Japan" (in Japanese), University of Tokyo Press (1996). ISBN 4-13-063309-0

Living in Japan means being under (or "over") the threats of earthquakes. After the Great Hanshin Earthquake severely damaged Kobe in 1995, Japan and its people had to realize that the threats of earthquakes are still there, with the potential to kill tens of thousands.

However, Tokyo has not been damaged by the earthquake since 1923 when the Great Kanto Earthquake killed more than 140 thousand people. October 2000 issue of the magazine "Newton" made a strong alert for the earthquake hit to Tokyo, which is expected to come in these 20 to 30 years.

Just after the Hanshin Earthquake, "Active Faults in Japan", a comprehensive collection of data on all known active faults throughout Japan published in 1991, became famous. The book which is large, heavy and expensive (JPY 30,000), was originally intended for libraries or use by seismic researchers, but many "ordinary" people tried buying it just after the earthquake. The authors of Reference 5 was extremely shocked; they thought as if they were given severe hits on their heads, according to the preface. Because the authors were specialists, and because they had clearly marked the active fault that moved in 1995 earthquake as "dangerous", they did not even imagine that people in Kobe were almost unaware of the possibility. So the "Primer" came as their answer to their thoughts in 1995. I do not think it complete; but I believe that this initial intention can itself be the reason for purchase.