Japan is taking on an ambitious $100 billion project to make Tokyo better prepared for natural disasters.
Tokyo is probably one of the most incredible and unique cities on Earth.
But behind its sprawling urban landscape lies a city constantly at risk of disaster.
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With a population of 40 million and a huge chunk of Japan’s economy relying on it, Tokyo is vulnerable to earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.
You see, Japan sits on the Pacific Rim of Fire, a 40,000 km tectonic built that 'forced Japan out of the sea in the first place.'
The country is home to 111 active volcanoes, including the iconic Mount Fuji and because it rests on four tectonic plates, is struck by 18% of the world's earthquakes, according to the YouTube channel The B1M.
Japan has experienced devastating earthquakes throughout its history, such as the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake that killed over 142,000 people.
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Flooding is another major threat to Japan as 20% of central Tokyo lies below sea level. Factors such as climate change can make extreme weather more likely, putting Tokyo at risk.
It’s not a question of if disaster will strike, but when.
In response, a $100 billion initiative called the Tokyo Resilience Project (TRP) was announced in December 2022 to safeguard the city.
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The project is set to take 18 years and will include major infrastructure upgrades, such as building new tunnels and implementing advanced monitoring systems to safeguard the urban city.
One of the upgrades will be widening 324 km of rivers to manage floodwaters. New tunnels are also set to be built to handle heavy rainfall and prevent flooding.
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Additionally, Tokyo is creating evacuation routes and improving emergency response systems. There will also be less crowding on public transport and roads as new parks and cycling paths will be developed.
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A new power communications grid will also be upgraded - with reinforced undersea cables and better satellite communications - to keep Tokyo connected and powered during potential disasters.
Furthermore, the TRP hopes to double the capacity of existing flood management systems, such as the underground G-Cans, which channel excess water away from the city.
In the event of earthquakes, Tokyo is installing advanced monitoring systems, like MOWLAS which will provide real-time data on seismic activity.
And certain buildings will be engineered to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude seven. One of these is the Tokyo Skytree which was completed in 2012. The impressive lattice structure measures 634 metres (2,080 ft)) in height and symbolises Tokyo's resilience in the face of natural disasters.