Social lives of tsunami walls in Japan: Concrete culture, social innovation and coastal communities

Abstract This paper is the beginning of a reflection on ways in which Great East Japan Disaster (2011) might have changed people’s perception seawalls and hard coastal defence Japan. A highly developed society that prone to frequent large tsunamis storm surges, Japan’s spending physical has few equals around world. The development sea became priority during 1960-70s when engineers related agencies national standards. One chief strategies been edification other structures, today surround more than 40% coastlines. technological advancement created general sentiment security trust ability these structures protect communities, their infrastructures nuclear plants. On March 11 2011, however, this sense safety was hardly shaken by M9 earthquake its ensuing tsunami taking away lives over 15,000 individuals causing material loss 210 billion dollars. If experts had anticipated such earthquake, height waves extent damaged suffered along coast northeast surpassed even most pessimistic predictions. Reflecting impact tragedy, first attempt appreciate whether Japanese approaches defences as result. part provides brief analytical overview culture socio-economic significance society. second examines specifically influenced behaviour events Earthquake, including creating false-sense security. Finally, third focuses relatively innovative post-disaster Japan, with particular focus project known Forest Wall. Rather engineering efficacy, interest lies inform us changing people relationships ideas defence.