4 Earthquakes in 5 days

This map, from the Japanese Meteorological Agency, show the latest of the 3 earthquakes we had in Tokyo in the last couple of days. This one, the lightest of the four, was not so bad – in fact it was the lightest – but it is a bit unnerving to experience so many of these in such a short time.

It has been two years since I started living in Japan and I think in those two years, I have experienced my share of earthquakes. After all, Tokyo, and Japan in general, is pretty unstable and an earthquake every couple of months is pretty normal. However, this, this is something else.

They say the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, has a huge earthquake every 90 years or so. This held true the last two times but this time it is overdue by a few years. I am hoping these four earthquakes in quick succession is not a precursor to the big one. If it is, the estimate for the number of casualties is not less than 90,000…

Update: We just had a fifth earthquake about half an hour ago… Sigh…

An earthquake in Tokyo

Yesterday just as we were having lunch at the company things started shaking. I think the fact that the cafetaria is on the 7th floor of the company building did not help things. Anywho, the trembles lasted for about 20 seconds or so. I think people are a little more used to earthquakes around here than I thought. Not only did it not go beyond someone casually remarking "I think we had a small earthquake" but no newspapers or TV news covered it as far as I could catch.

Today, I found a "Disaster Guide" from Mitaka City Hall - I am hoping it is not a sign that they know something we don't about the upcoming days :P The picture is of the big shelter sign in front of the school close to my apartment.