Japan earthquake: country better prepared than anyone for quakes and tsunamis
No country on Earth is better prepared than Japan to deal with earthquakes – or the tsunamis that result from them.
For the latest updates on the Japan earthquake and tsunami, follow our live coverage.
Every schoolchild in Japan will be familiar with regular earthquake drills in which alarms sound and children retreat under their desks to shelter from falling debris.
Television footage from school and offices in Tokyo during Friday's quake showed workers and students behaving with extraordinary calm and composure as buildings shook violently, sending files tumbling from desks and books from shelves.
After the quake crocodiles of children could be seen in Tokyo walking calmly to muster points wearing their protective helmets.
Damage to buildings in Tokyo was also slight, the result of Japan's stringent building regulations that ensure that skyscrapers sway in during a quake, but don't collapse.
Many lessons were learned from the Kobe earthquake of 1995 that killed 6,400 people and forced a reassessment of the building regulations for both residential offices and transport infrastructure.
Immediately after an earthquake strikes in Japan, all television and radio stations switch immediately to official earthquake coverage which informs the public of risks, including tsunamis to enable people to retreat to higher ground or, on the coast, purpose-built tsunami defence bunkers.
For those trapped, all offices and many private houses in Japan have an earthquake emergency kits, including dry rations, drinking water, basic medical supplies. Offices and school also keep hard-hats and gloves for use in the event of a quake.
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