Among the events that people in Japan can never forget in the month of March is the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011.
Living in Japan means living with earthquakes as a constant part of life. From a geological perspective, experiencing tremors from time to time is almost unavoidable. However, the earthquake in 2011 was different. It was an event so powerful that most people will likely never experience anything of that scale again in their lifetime.
Our parent company, Fukae Kasei, is located in Kobe, a city that itself experienced the devastating Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. In Japan, no matter where you live, the possibility of experiencing a major natural disaster is always present.
Unlike human-caused events, earthquakes cannot be predicted or prevented. Because they occur so rarely in our lives, many people find themselves unsure of how to respond when one actually happens.
My Experience During the Earthquake
At the time of the 2011 earthquake, I was in the Yokohama area, roughly 500 kilometers away from the epicenter.
That day I happened to be visiting our company office. The office was located on the 8th floor of the building. After having lunch with my manager, I returned to my desk and had just started working in the afternoon when the earthquake struck.
In Japan, when an earthquake occurs, people are often told to protect themselves by taking cover under a desk. But this earthquake was unlike anything I had experienced before.
The shaking was so strong that it was difficult even to move. Desks and shelves were shifting back and forth across the floor, and finding a safe place to hide was almost impossible.
The reported seismic intensity at our location was level 5. However, because we were on the 8th floor, the building did not simply shake — it felt as though the entire structure was being violently swayed.
Windows were opening and closing forcefully due to the movement. Going near them would have been extremely dangerous. All we could do was stay where we were and wait for the shaking to stop.
Escaping the Building
Earthquakes usually do not last long, but the shaking often comes in waves.
When the first major shaking subsided, we decided that it would be safer to evacuate the building before the next wave arrived. We headed toward the stairs.
However, even descending the stairs was difficult because the building continued to tremble with small aftershocks and occasional larger movements.
To be honest, I do not remember how long it took to get outside. What I remember most clearly is the feeling of relief when I finally made it out of the building safely.
The Aftermath
Japan has experienced many large earthquakes throughout its history, which is why building standards are designed with strong seismic resistance.
As a result, complete building collapses are relatively rare compared to some disasters elsewhere in the world. However, earthquake-resistant structures are designed to sway during seismic activity, which can make the experience far more frightening than people might imagine.
At the time, mobile phones were already an essential part of daily life. As soon as the earthquake occurred, everyone tried to contact family and friends to confirm their safety. The sudden surge in calls overwhelmed the network, and phone lines quickly became unusable.
Public transportation was also severely disrupted. Trains stopped operating, and many people were stranded in Tokyo and surrounding areas. News reports showed large numbers of people walking long distances to return home.
In my case, I was waiting for a taxi when late at night we heard that train service had resumed. Fortunately, I was able to catch a train and return home.
The Days That Followed
The challenges did not end with the earthquake itself.
Electricity supply became unstable, leading to scheduled rolling blackouts across many regions. Daily necessities quickly disappeared from store shelves, and food supplies became limited.
For many people, it was difficult to know what to do next. The effects of the disaster continued for weeks and months.
Later, when we learned that the epicenter had been in the Tohoku region, the devastation shown in the news was heartbreaking. Even today, watching footage from that time is deeply emotional.
It also reminds me that disasters like this may happen again someday.
Preparing for the Unexpected
Because of that experience, I now try to keep a few simple preparations in place.
For example:
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Knowing the evacuation routes wherever I work or travel
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Keeping basic emergency supplies such as water and canned food
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Replacing them regularly as they are used
These small habits may not seem significant, but they can make a difference during an emergency.
Risk Awareness in the Laboratory
Natural disasters are not the only risks we face.
In our daily work environments, especially in laboratories, we often handle materials and processes that carry their own risks. Hazardous samples, strict hygiene requirements, and the need for highly reproducible experimental procedures all require careful attention.
Even a small deviation can lead to problems.
Preventable risks should be managed through routine procedures, and when unexpected situations arise, the ability to remain calm and think clearly becomes critical.
That is why it is important to consider possible scenarios in advance and maintain a mindset of preparedness.
In both life and science, risk management begins long before an emergency happens.