Based on a report on earthquake and tsunami responses by a committee of experts that incorporates lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake, this article introduces the main characteristics of the recent earthquake and tsunami, current suppositions on future tsunamis, and practical measures for ameliorating tsunami damage and dealing with future large scale earthquakes.
Selected Papers No.16

In 2011, the author was named Vice-Chairman of the International Oceanographic Commission at its 26th Assembly Session, becoming the first Japanese to hold an executive position in the IOC in 40 years. Japan has a large role to play at the IOC, where discussions are held on a wide variety of international problems related to oceanography, including ocean observation, marine environment and climate related research, tsunami and other marine disaster prevention, and oceanographic data management. With my election to the Vice-Chairmanship, and with the cooperation of others involved, I hope to make a significant contribution to the development of oceanography around the world.

On March 11, 2011 the Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the Sanriku coast, registering a magnitude 9, the largest in the history of observations in Japan. The earthquake was accompanied by extremely powerful tsunami waves with the maximum run-up height of 40.5 meters. This disaster caused the death or disappearance of almost 20,000 people, with 95% of the victims being swept away by the tsunami. In order that we never incur such tsunami related casualties again, it is most important that we first acquire a correct understanding of the true nature of tsunamis.