Japan Historian

Japan’s Famous Landmarks

Todaiji

Nara, Japan

 Tōdai-ji , meaning the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden), reputedly the largest wooden building in the world, houses a colossal bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as the Daibutsu The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. The temple is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site as "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara," together with seven other sites including temples, shrines and places in the city of Nara. Sika deer, regarded as messengers of the gods in the Shinto religion, roam the grounds freely.

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Japan’s Famous Landmarks

Mt. Fuji

 

The Great Buddha of Kamakura

The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha that is located on the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 13.35 meters, it is the second largest Buddha statue in Japan (the largest is located in the Todaiji Temple in Nara).

The statue was cast in 1252 and originally located inside a large temple hall. However, the temple buildings were washed away by a tsunami tidal wave in the end of the 15th century, and since then the Buddha stands in the open air.

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 Nanako Matsushima

Famous Japanese Actress 

Nanako Matsushima , born October 13, 1973 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress and model. She is known outside Japan for her role in the horror film Ring. She became the highest-paid actress in Japan due to Great Teacher Onizuka and all her following dramas becoming big hits. She was also a main character in A Story of Love, where she starred against Hiroyuki Sanada, who played Ryuji in Ringu.

On February 21, 2001, she married Takashi Sorimachi who co-starred with her in Great Teacher Onizuka. They had a daughter together on May 31, 2004.

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Japan Earthquake

The Japanese archipelago is located in an area where several continental and oceanic plates meet. This is the cause for frequent earthquakes and the presence of many volcanoes and hot springs across Japan. If earthquakes occur below or close to the ocean, they may trigger tidal waves (tsunami).

Historic earthquakes

Many parts of the country have experienced devastating earthquakes and tidal waves in the past. The worst earthquake in Japanese history hit the Kanto plain around Tokyo in the year 1923, when over 100,000 people di in the Great Kanto Earthquake.

In January 1995 a strong earthquake hit the city of Kobe and surroundings. The Southern Hyogo Earthquake (also called Great Hanshin Earthquake) kiled 6,000 and injued 415,000 people. 100,000 houses were completely and 185,000 partially destroyed.

Earthquake measurement

The shindo scale ranges from shindo one, a slight earthquake felt only by people who are not moving, to shindo seven, a severe earthquake. Shindo two to four are still minor earthquakes that do not cause damage, while objects start to fall at shindo five, and heavier damage occurs at shindo six and seven.

Prevention

Every household should keep a survival kit consisting of water and food for a few days, a flashlight, a radio and a first aid kit. Avoid placing heavy objects into places where they could easily fall during an earthquake and cause injury or block exits. Have a fire extinguisher. Familiarize yourself with the designated evacuation area in your neighborhood.

During and after an earthquake

Falling objects, toppling furniture and panic present the greatest dangers during an earthquake. Try to protect yourself under a table or doorway. Do not run outside, and try to remain as calm as possible. If you are in the streets, try to find protection from glass and other objects that may fall from surrounding buildings.

After a strong earthquake, turn off ovens, stoves and the main gas valve. Then, listen to the radio or television for news. In coastal areas beware of possible tidal waves (tsunami). In mountainous areas beware of possible land slides triggered by the earthquake.

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