Japan's Geography, Natural Disasters, and Energy Challenges

Study Notes

Japan has 60 active volcanoes, many of which are close to population centers, including Mount Fuji, which is just 100 kilometers from Tokyo.
Japan is located along the Ring of Fire, an area with a majority of the world's volcanoes and earthquakes.
Japan is situated on four individual tectonic plates, leading to frequent natural disasters.
Japan experienced a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 that led to the failure of a nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture.
Japan is heavily reliant on oil and gas imports for its energy needs due to a lack of natural resources.
The government promoted nuclear energy to reduce reliance on oil imports, but after the Fukushima disaster, Japan's energy self-sufficiency dropped to less than 10 percent.
Japan's geography is challenging due to its split between four main islands and 6,800 smaller ones, as well as steep mountainous terrain.
Japanese homes are smaller than average and depreciate in value over time due to frequent natural disasters and earthquake resistance standards.
Japan has built infrastructure to mitigate natural disasters, such as a system to reduce house flooding by 90 percent and high-speed trains designed to handle earthquakes.
Japan's neighbors, including North Korea and China, pose geopolitical challenges due to territorial disputes and potential natural resource and export restrictions.
Japan's population peaked at 128 million in 2010 and has since dropped to 125 million, leading to vacant and abandoned dwellings and the potential disappearance of rural villages and towns.

Description

Explore the geography, natural disaster risks, and energy challenges faced by Japan, including volcanic activity, tectonic plate movements, nuclear energy reliance, and infrastructure for disaster mitigation.