30 Years after Great Hanshin Earthquake, Preparedness Still a Challenge

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Thirty years have passed since the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which claimed the lives of 6,434 people.

Toshikazu Yasumizu is a poet who experienced the disaster in Nagata Ward, Kobe City. He writes the following in his Ten Years of Poems, a collection of poems and prose written in the 10 years following the disaster.

"As heartbroken and saddened by the horrific event as we may be, we cannot say we alone are affected. However, if we can find even the slightest connection with others, we can connect with others. … Then our connections can reach even much further."

Thirty years ago, after the massive quake, 1.37 million volunteers flocked to the Kobe-Awaji area from all over Japan to help out. Because of that, 1995 was dubbed the "Year One for Volunteering." The momentum from this spirit is still strong today.

If we are to survive, we must be constantly aware of little things. We should take to heart Yasumi's advice: "To be firmly connected to [at least] one other person."

Thorough Preparedness Saves Lives

That also means constantly refreshing our memories and applying the lessons we have learned. The following poem by Yasumizu is inscribed on the earthquake monument at Akashi Prefectural Park in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture:

This is something that once happened 
This is something that someday will happen.
That is why we carefully preserve the memory, 
That is why we refresh the memory 
For the future, that we may survive.

The reconstruction and redevelopment of Kobe City was officially completed in the autumn of 2024. Finally, all reconstruction-related projects carried out during the long 29 years since the disaster came to an end. It is hard to conjure images of the sea of fire that burned here 30 years ago when one looks out at today's cityscape, punctuated by clusters of skyscrapers.

*Students lay flowers and join hands at a memorial ceremony at Seido Elementary School in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on the morning of January 17 (©Sankei by Shigeru Amari)*

However, no matter how much time may pass, January 17 will remain an important day that should never be forgotten. Hyogo Prefecture planned a 30th-anniversary project for the earthquake, selecting the slogan from suggestions made by the public. It is:

There are no memories that will never fade, there is a commitment to connect.

We should offer prayers for the souls of those who lost their lives and share the feelings of those living in the areas stricken by the disaster.

Unfolding of the Disaster

The disaster struck at 5:46 on the early morning of January 17, 1995. The largest urban earthquake of the postwar era revealed the defenselessness and vulnerability of our modern cities to massive earthquakes. Buildings collapsed, highways toppled, and 249,180 homes were completely or partially destroyed.

Many lives were lost due to electrical fires or when people were crushed to death when buildings collapsed in the wake of the earthquake. The anguished cries of loved ones whose pleas for help could not be answered echoed throughout the disaster-stricken zones.

The national government at the time was led by Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama. Both the national and local governments were slow to respond. It was only four hours later after 10:00 AM that Self-Defense Force (SDF) rescue teams finally began to head out in earnest to provide disaster relief.

Lessons Learned

SDF rescue operations in the city of Kobe did not commence until after 1:00 PM. After that, in reaction to the initial stumbling response, a crisis management center was set up in the Prime Minister's Office. Then, finally, the SDF teams were authorized to deploy independently.

Thanks to these great sacrifices, society has learned many lessons. We have come to recognize the importance of "preparation." Also, the government has strengthened earthquake resistance standards by revising the Building Standards Act in 2000.

*A family struggles to salvage their belongings from their home, which collapsed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake. (February 1995, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture)*

People are now firmly securing their furniture and preparing emergency supplies. Meanwhile, practical disaster prevention training also started in locations throughout Japan. However, subsequent disasters have highlighted the challenges that remain.

Urgent Need to Improve Evacuation Conditions

One year ago on New Year's Day in 2024, a major earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. Soon thereafter, a fire broke out on Asaichi Dori, a tourist spot in Wajima City. The fire was finally put out five days later. However, it had burned about 240 buildings and destroyed an area of about 50,000 square meters.

In 2023, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency conducted a nationwide survey. It found that only 9% of fire departments nationwide prioritized installing fire extinguishing equipment in areas densely populated with wooden houses. Yet, these are the very areas where fires are more likely to spread. In addition to strengthening fire prevention measures, it is also necessary to improve the initial firefighting capabilities of residents.

Evacuation conditions were poor then, with people wrapped in blankets sleeping on cardboard boxes spread on the floor. They were often in a gymnasium converted into a makeshift evacuation center. However, the same conditions remain today as they were 30 years ago.

Secondary Impact on Human Life

The concept of "disaster-related deaths," in which people die from illness caused by fatigue and stress accompanying evacuations, is a product of the Great Hanshin Earthquake.

In the case of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, such "disaster-related deaths" accounted for around 900 of the total of 6,434 fatalities. However, 287 individuals died in that manner after the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Alarmingly, they exceeded the number of deaths directly attributable to the earthquake.

In his policy speech in late 2024, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba promised to promote pre-disaster prevention measures. His goal is that "all evacuation shelters will meet international standards for per-person living space, drinking water, toilets, and other items as soon as possible after a disaster occurs."

We expect the Prime Minister to make that pledge a reality.

Preparing Earthquake Country

Japan is a disaster-prone nation. Probabilities are high that earthquakes will occur in the Kuril Trench in Hokkaido and the Nankai Trough off western Japan. A major earthquake is also possible directly beneath the Tokyo Metropolitan Region itself.

Any of these scenarios would result in severe damage. However, the government's Central Disaster Prevention Council estimates that early evacuation and improved earthquake resistance rates could reduce human casualties by 80%.

Japanese society as a whole must reaffirm the importance of preparation and the significance of evacuation. That is the crux of the matter if we are serious about creating a disaster-resilient society.

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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