海外「生まれて初めて地震を経験した????日本は狂ってる。ゴジラが来るのかと思った」（海外の反応）
First-time visitors to Japan experienced a powerful earthquake, leading to widespread panic and shock. Many took to social media, describing Japan as "crazy" and fearing "Godzilla was coming." These reactions highlight the unique nature of Japan, where earthquakes are a surprising yet routine part of daily life.
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Earthquake Nation Japan
Japan is renowned as one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. This is primarily because it sits on the "Ring of Fire," where multiple massive tectonic plates (Pacific, Philippine Sea, North American, Eurasian) complexly collide and subduct. These plate movements release accumulated stress deep underground, causing frequent earthquakes. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, an average of about 2,000 earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher are observed annually in Japan, and approximately 10% of the world's major earthquakes (magnitude 6 or higher) occur around Japan. This constant seismic activity is deeply intertwined with the formation of the Japanese archipelago, creating beautiful mountains and hot springs, while also presenting the unique challenge of living constantly alongside the risk of seismic disasters. People living in Japan learn about earthquakes and undergo training from an early age, building a culture of coexistence with them. While earthquakes can be a surprising experience for foreigners, for Japanese people, they are an accepted part of daily life.
Seismic Resistance Technology and Building Standards
Japanese buildings are protected by world-class seismic resistance technology and strict building standards. Significant turning points were the "New Seismic Resistance Standard" introduced in 1981 and the "2000 Standard" revised in 2000 after the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. The New Seismic Resistance Standard aimed for minor damage in moderate earthquakes (around intensity 5-strong) and no collapse in major earthquakes (around intensity 6-strong to 7). Furthermore, the 2000 Standard added more detailed regulations, such as mandatory ground surveys and reinforcement of joint sections, dramatically improving the seismic safety of buildings. Today, cutting-edge technologies like seismic isolation structures (installing laminated rubber between the building and the ground to prevent direct transmission of seismic vibrations) and seismic damping structures (installing devices like dampers to absorb building vibrations) are applied to high-rise buildings and large-scale constructions. Thanks to these technological innovations, many buildings can withstand violent shaking exceeding seismic intensity 6-strong without collapsing. The fact that many foreigners express surprise at buildings not collapsing when they experience an earthquake in Japan is precisely a testament to this Japanese seismic resistance technology. Japan's building standards are also attracting attention as a model case for seismic design worldwide.
Ring of Fire
The Ring of Fire is the world's most active volcanic belt, stretching in a horseshoe shape around the Pacific Ocean, and simultaneously a region of frequent seismic activity. As its name suggests, approximately 90% of the world's earthquakes and 75% of its active volcanoes are concentrated in this belt. The Japanese archipelago is part of this Ring of Fire, characterized by a complex interplay of multiple massive plates such as the Pacific Plate, Philippine Sea Plate, North American Plate, and Eurasian Plate. Large-scale earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are triggered when these plates collide with each other or when one plate subducts beneath another. This geological characteristic is precisely why Japan is known as an "earthquake nation" and a "volcanic nation." The Ring of Fire extends for approximately 40,000 km, encompassing areas from the west coast of North America, Alaska, the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Kuril Islands, the Japanese archipelago, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the west coast of South America. People living in this region are constantly exposed to the risks of earthquakes and volcanic activity, and each country and region has developed its own unique disaster prevention measures and building technologies. The surprise expressed by foreigners experiencing an earthquake in Japan can be seen as a direct sensation of Japan's geographical destiny, which is founded upon the dynamic, global-scale activity of the Ring of Fire.