１ｓｔ（Ｓ）

Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes. Despite that, there are only a few cases where buildings collapse and many people are killed in natural disasters. I believe this is because Japan is well prepared for natural disasters, and we are well informed and aware of the importance of preparation for possible disasters in this earthquake-prone country.

First, the government strongly recommends each resident in a given area join evacuation drills to get to know what to expect and where they should evacuate in the event of a natural disaster. Customarily, we have large-scale earthquake drills every year on September 1st, on which date, a great earthquake struck the city of Tokyo in 1923. More than 140 thousand people were reportedly killed in the quake and the fires that followed. In order to commemorate the day and to prevent such a disaster, almost every student in school, and many workers in the office buildings participate in evacuation drills every year, and make sure where to evacuate and how to behave if there is a big earthquake.

Second, public announcement by the local government well informs the people about a disaster and instructs them what to do in case of emergency. When a big earthquake struck the Tohoku area, for example, tsunami warnings were issued immediately after the first quake. Thanks to the quick response, many people were evacuated to high grounds well in advance, and many lives were saved. Also, earthquake forecasts are advancing these days, and they can notify people of an upcoming earthquake a few minutes before the quake.

Lastly, Buildings in Japan are strongly built, and the government often spends a large amount of public funds reinforcing public buildings every year. Also, there is a strict standard to meet before any structure is built in Japan, and all newly built structures are strong enough to withstand great earthquakes.

In conclusion, although more still needs to be done, especially against tsunami, Japan is sufficiently prepared for natural disasters, and many lives have been saved because of this. I believe Japan should be proud of that.