What makes natural disasters occur so frequently in Japan?

Japan is a small but heavily populated, mountainous country that sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. These mountains are caused by the movement of crustal plates, with the Pacific and Philippine Plates subducting, pushing up mountain ranges and causing volcanoes and earthquakes. read more

The two types of natural disasters for which Japan is famous, earthquakes and tsunamis, are the result of the seismic activity in this region, earthquakes being the primary result of shifting tectonic plates and tsunamis being a secondary result of earthquakes that take place on the sea floor. read more

Japan is one of the countries most affected by natural disasters. Two out of the five most expensive natural disasters in recent history have occurred in Japan, costing $181 billion in the years 2011 and 1995 only. Japan has also been the site of some of the 10 worst natural disasters of the 21st century. read more

The movement of these plates causes a natural phenomenon, earthquakes. Tremors are small earthquakes that are common in Japan. The Japanese have become used to dealing with tremors. Major earthquakes on the other hand are very destructive. Fortunately, these occur less frequently. See image 1. The most disastrous earthquake in Japan was in 1923. read more