BOSAI: Science that Can Save Your Life

Japan has a long history of natural disasters. BOSAI explores how to overcome them and save lives with the power of science. This first program is about tsunami. First, we visit ru...

Japan's cities are often located in low-lying areas along rivers and are paved with concrete and asphalt, putting them at risk of flooding in the event of heavy rain. In recent yea...

Typhoon Jebi, which struck Osaka Prefecture in 2018, is said to be the first typhoon to have hit a modern metropolis in Japan, and many buildings were damaged. According to experts...

In the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, high-rise buildings in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, some 400 kilometers away from the epicenter, continued to sway significantly for 13 minut...

Localized torrential rain is occurring with greater frequency in Japan. Flash floods from the heavy rain not only cause rivers to overflow but threaten homes and human life. This k...

An increase in heavy rainfall in recent years has made debris flows a frequent problem in Japan. We'll look at research underway to help with their early detection and explore ways...

Mt. Fuji has been an object of faith for many Japanese. On the other hand, it has also caused numerous disasters with repeated eruptions. According to a simulation released by the...

In Japan, the temperature is continuing to rise due to the effects of global warming and heatstroke cases are also on the rise. Heatstroke is a condition in which the body loses th...

The 2018 torrential rains in western Japan killed 51 people in the Kurashiki City town of Mabi in Okayama Prefecture. Many of the victims drowned on the first floor of their home d...

Japan experiences an average of 23 tornadoes per year. They often cause serious damage when they strike in populated areas such as plains or along the sea. Tornadoes are also consi...

In 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck Japan's Hyogo Prefecture early in the morning. Immediately after the earthquake, multiple fires broke out at the same time. Those...

Avalanches occur suddenly, damaging houses and injuring people. Many of the avalanches that occurred in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2014 took place in locations where avalanches are un...

As a natural threat that can suddenly occur any time of the year at nearly any place around the world, lightning is formidable. Despite humanity's long history with lightning, ther...

The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused unprecedented damage. Even areas 300 kilometers away from the epicenter suffered damages beyond what was predicted. A phenomenon call...

PM2.5 are extremely small particles. The WHO estimates that every year PM2.5 is responsible for 2.4 million premature deaths worldwide. What is the cause? According to a study cond...

The Great East Japan Earthquake and the massive tsunami that followed caused unprecedented damage along the coast of the Tohoku region with waves over 16 meters high. Why was the i...

What is a human stampede? It is a disaster in which people are so crowded together that they push and squeeze against each other, making it hard to breathe. It can also cause a per...

The Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and its resulting tsunami caused the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The worst nuclear accident in Japan's history su...

Mt. Ontake is located on the border of Nagano and Gifu prefectures. Standing 3,067 meters above sea level, it is a popular daytrip hiking spot for mountain enthusiasts. Mt. Ontake...

Linear rainbands. Once they occur, the area is hit with heavy downpour for an extended period of time, resulting in flood damage. In Japan, this phenomenon has been drawing attenti...

In November 2021, the surface of a road in Mikasa, Hokkaido Prefecture suddenly caved in. A car fell into the large hole that formed, seriously injuring its three passengers. No un...

In February 2022, an American space exploration company simultaneously launched 49 satellites. Yet not long after, 40 of those satellites fell out of orbit and burned up upon re-en...

More than 10 typhoons hit the Japanese archipelago in an average year. Their strong winds and heavy rains can cause flooding and landslides, even toppling buildings. To minimize su...

When a typhoon or similar storm approaches, air pressure drops and the sea surface is sucked up. Strong winds also push seawater towards the shore. These factors combine to create...

In recent years, heavy snow has been falling frequently in Japan. While the overall amount of snowfall per winter has been decreasing year by year, the amount of snow that falls at...

In April 2018, a landslide occurred on a hill behind houses in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture. The landslide moved sediment over a width of more than 100 meters, completely destroyi...

On March 11, 2011, a huge earthquake occurred off Japan's Tohoku coast. Skyscrapers 400 kilometers away in Tokyo's Shinjuku district continued swaying for 13 minutes. And 770 kilom...

One of the most important things to do to save lives from a major tsunami is to evacuate to safety as soon as possible. The key to this is fast and accurate tsunami information. On...

River flooding happens when heavy rain causes river levels to rise and overflow with large amounts of water. In recent years in Japan, a weather phenomenon known as "linear rainban...

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 was one of the worst disasters in Japanese history. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake centered in the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture caused buildin...

The 1983 eruption of Tokyo's Miyake Island resulted in the burial or loss of approximately 400 houses as well as a school built of reinforced concrete that was also buried by lava...

In September 2018, the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake knocked out power of the entire region, affecting up to 2.95 million households. The tremor caused several power plants to...

Earthquakes destroy many buildings and take lives. One cause of earthquakes is an active fault. The impact of a sudden displacement of the ground shakes the Earth and causes an ear...

The number of foreign visitors to Japan has been on the rise since the COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. However, many are not fully aware of natural disasters that strik...

Droughts are increasing due to global warming. The latest simulations predict that megadroughts could occur along the Mediterranean coast and the west coast of the US. Now, Japan's...

Wildfires are increasing worldwide and global warming is accelerating the risk. Find out about Japan's unique system for swiftly responding to fires and the latest research on fore...

Tokyo is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and flooding. Discover the most advanced disaster prevention technologies hidden throughout the city.

Osaka, a city that thrives on rivers, has faced countless flood damage. Find out the latest measures protecting the city from typhoons and heavy rain.

Find out about Japan's emergency food options that meet the needs of various people. Also discover the rolling stock method, a smart way to stockpile emergency food.

In this episode, we look at Japan's efforts to improve tsunami evacuation, from overcoming "normalcy bias" that causes people to underestimate risk, to the installation of coastal...

Be earthquake-ready! Learn survival tips for quakes and when you're trapped under rubble. You'll want to watch this before your next trip to Japan.

What does it take to survive a flood? Japan has developed survival skills for floods through experiences such as typhoons. Find out how to safely navigate flooded streets and escap...

Drones are proving particularly useful in the area of disaster response. Now, Osaka University is developing the world's first system to project evacuation information in the air.

The world's first robot fire brigade has been developed in Japan. See how these incredible robots equipped with AI can tackle large-scale fires in areas that are inaccessible to hu...

Many mountains in Japan that attract tourists are active volcanoes. Learn safety tips for climbing and the latest on eruption prediction research.

In 2021, digital twin technology analyzed a landslide in Atami and prevented further disasters. Find out how it is also used for tsunami prediction.

Typhoons are expected to intensify in the future, but can they be controlled? Find out about a national project that explores ways to weaken winds using fleets of ships and artific...

In Japan, extremely powerful lightning known as a superbolt can occur in the Hokuriku region during winter. What is the source of this power, which is comparable to a small nuclear...

Phase Free is a disaster preparedness concept that does not distinguish between everyday life and emergency situations. We'll see how everyday items can be used in times of disaste...

Japan's snow is a big draw for tourists, but snow and ice can also pose dangers to drivers. We'll look at some Japanese technology being developed to prevent whiteouts and accident...

We look at Self-Defense Forces disaster prep, including their response team's special equipment and techniques, and a new tsunami prediction system.

In this episode, we'll look at how Sendai has transformed into a disaster-resilient city with its "multiple defenses" - countermeasures taken in its coastal area to minimize damage...

Shibuya is one of Japan's most famous tourist spots, but the low-lying city is also at risk of flooding and earthquakes. We'll look at Shibuya's advanced efforts to prepare for suc...

Tokyo Skytree, one of Japan's most famous tourist attractions, is equipped with a variety of countermeasures against disasters. We'll go behind the scenes to explore the tower's ad...

Over 15,000 pets lost their lives in the 2011 quake. Discover how smart collars and instant shelter units are changing pet safety during emergencies.

The historic city of Kyoto faces threats of landslides and post-earthquake fires. What modern systems defend this ancient city from natural disasters?

In summer, accidents near the beach are a constant occurrence. But new technologies using smart devices are helping to prevent disaster in Japan.

Massive logistics facilities underpin online retail, but their robust warehouse structures, state-of-the-art seismic isolation systems and other features make them suitable as evac...

Disaster training is advancing with digital technology. See how AR/VR technology is helping participants gain realistic experience about the movement of smoke in fires and the risk...

Explore how Japan uses artificial satellites and surface observation to quickly assess flood and earthquake damage, supporting disaster preparedness.

A Nankai Trough megaquake is expected to cause severe damage. In this episode, we will examine how Japan is preparing for this impending disaster with cutting-edge technology.

From protecting valuable ceramics to reinforcing World Heritage structures, we'll see how the latest disaster preparedness technology is safeguarding Japan's irreplaceable cultural...

Japan is one of the most volcanically active nations. Its world-leading research on volcanic disasters has led to new technologies to track underground magma and predict phreatic e...

Bear encounters are happening more frequently all over Japan. We'll look at new technologies to reduce the danger they pose, such as GPS tracking and an AI model that predicts bear...

A major Tokyo quake could leave many stranded in Marunouchi, one of Japan's leading business districts. We'll examine its vast energy network protecting people from disasters and p...

Robots are garnering attention for their potential in disaster areas. We'll look at the cutting-edge initiatives aimed at further advancing the application of disaster response rob...

Climate change is causing heavy rainfalls, emergencies that force dams to release water. This episode looks at dam upgrades being made in response.