"Among the most earthquake-prone regions in the world, Japan has a long history of responding to seismic disasters. However, despite advances in earthquake-related safety technologies and the deep imprint that seismic activity has made on Japanese society, the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami were tremendously destructive. Tracing the history of earthquakes in Japan, Gregory Smits identifies a cycle of overconfidence and unreasonable expectations with roots as far back as the 1830 Kyoto Earthquake. The author argues that the events of March 11, 2011, and its aftermath are but the latest example of this all-too-human cycle of overconfidence, exacerbated by fading attention to the risks of known natural hazards as time passes. The first sustained historical analysis of destructive earthquakes and tsunamis, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in Japan, natural disasters, seismology, and environmental history"--Provided by publisher.