Introduction to the Special Section for the Centennial of the Great 1923 Kanto, Japan, Earthquake

by Hiroe Miyake, James J. Mori, David J. Wald, Hiroshi Kawase;, Shinji Toda;, Paul Martin Mai
Year: 2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1785/0120230200

Abstract

The Tokyo metropolitan area (population of ∼40 million inhabitants) is globally one of the most densely populated urban centers, which is also located in an active subduction zone. It is situated in a complex tectonic setting where the future large earthquakes will occur (e.g., Stein et al., 2006). Kanto‐like repeating earthquakes or variations of larger and smaller earthquakes controlled by the Philippine Sea plate and the earthquakes along the Pacific plate (e.g., Pilarczyk et al., 2021), as well as Nankai trough earthquakes, are highlighted at the national governmental level in numerous studies of the seismic risk for the region. The 100th anniversary of the 1923 Kanto earthquake is an opportune time to reassess the event and take stock of the lessons learned in the geoscientific, engineering, and societal aspects of the earthquake. The result will be better preparedness for the future similar earthquakes in the area.

 

https://doi.org/10.1785/0120230200