Fourteen years ago, Japan’s eastern coast was struck by the powerful Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which claimed more than 15,000 lives, devastated cities, and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster. In the aftermath, the Japanese government decided to invest billions of dollars in new infrastructure to protect against future tsunamis.
The so-called “Great Wall of Japan” is a massive concrete barrier stretching nearly 400 kilometers along the country’s northeastern coast. According to international media, the wall rises more than 14 meters high in some areas, with foundations reaching depths of up to 25 meters. While seawalls were not a new concept at the time, this one differs from earlier versions by having a wider, reinforced base. It was designed to withstand waves up to eight meters high, weaken their force, and provide precious time for evacuation.
Still, waves can exceed those limits, as seen in 2011 when some reached 15 meters, destroying many protective barriers then in place. For this reason, the Great Wall of Japan was complemented by additional natural reinforcements. Alongside it, authorities launched a coastal project to plant nine million trees and shape artificial hills.
However, this infrastructure has not been universally welcomed. Critics argue that the walls spoil the natural landscape and, in some regions, block ocean views. Concerns have also been raised about potential declines in coastal tourism and skepticism among residents about whether the wall could truly stop a major disaster.
Experts emphasize that these walls provide what is known as “Level 1” protection, intended for tsunamis occurring once every 50 to 160 years. For rarer, more extreme “Level 2” events, the seawalls alone would not be sufficient. What remains crucial, specialists stress, are public education, well-planned evacuation routes, and early warning systems to minimize the catastrophic impact of natural disasters.
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