Kumamoto marks 10 years since deadly quakesーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• Intensity 7 Earthquake: The highest level on the Japanese seismic scale (Shindo), indicating catastrophic shaking.
• Disaster-related Deaths: Fatalities occurring not from the direct impact of the earthquake, but from deteriorating health, stress, or lack of medical care during the evacuation period.
• Kumamoto Castle Restoration: A multi-decade engineering and cultural preservation project involving the manual reconstruction of centuries-old stone walls.
• Stone Masonry: A traditional craft requiring high precision, where stones weighing 200–1,000 kg must be aligned within millimeter-level tolerances.

The 2016 Kumamoto Earthquakes: Impact and Statistics

On April 14 and 16, 2016, the Kumamoto prefecture experienced two consecutive intensity 7 earthquakes. This event marked a historic seismic occurrence, as it was the first time two quakes of the maximum intensity hit the same region in such rapid succession.

• Casualties and Damage: The quakes resulted in 278 deaths and damaged over 198,000 buildings.
• Disaster-related Deaths: A critical finding is that 80% of the total fatalities were classified as "disaster-related deaths." These deaths were caused by the physical and mental toll of evacuation, such as "car-living syndrome" (where prolonged immobility leads to health complications) and delays in medical treatment.
• Lessons Learned: The government has since upgraded evacuation center infrastructure, including better beds, kitchens, and toilets. Additionally, mobile pharmacy vehicles have increased from four to 26 nationwide to ensure medical continuity during disasters. Despite these efforts, the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake showed that indirect deaths still account for nearly 70% of fatalities, highlighting the ongoing challenge of protecting evacuees.

Kumamoto Castle: Restoration and Cultural Resilience

Kumamoto Castle, a premier Japanese landmark, suffered severe structural damage, particularly to its ancient stone walls. Approximately 30% of the walls collapsed or deformed, requiring the repositioning of roughly 100,000 stones.

• Restoration Timeline: The project is a long-term endeavor expected to span until 2052. In the last decade, only 7,000 stones have been restored, underscoring the extreme complexity of the work.
• Technical Methodology:
  • Precision: Stones weigh between 200 and 1,000 kg. A deviation of even a few millimeters can compromise the structural integrity of the entire wall.
  • Efficiency: Due to the meticulous nature of the work, teams can only set approximately six stones per day.
  • Collaboration: The process requires multiple craftsmen working in perfect synchronization to move and seat the stones.
• Human Capital: The project faces an urgent need for skilled labor. The training process for a master stone mason takes approximately 10 years.

Personal Narratives and Legacy

The report highlights the generational impact of the disaster through two specific perspectives:

1. The Survivor’s Perspective: Matsuda Takahiro, born on the day of the first quake, represents the generation that grew up in the shadow of the disaster. His family’s experience of living in a car for three weeks illustrates the physical and mental hardships faced by thousands of displaced residents.
2. The Craftsman’s Perspective: Higashi Ryugen, a 25-year-old novice stone mason, represents the commitment to rebuilding. Motivated by the sadness of seeing his hometown’s heritage destroyed, he transitioned from other work to join the restoration project. His role involves fitting smaller stones into gaps to reinforce the structure, a task requiring him to shape stones to fit irregular spaces perfectly.

Notable Quote:

• Higashi Ryugen: "Because this work will last for generations, I feel that every stone I put back, even if it's slow, is real progress. I can sense the walls coming back to life."

Synthesis and Conclusion

The 10-year anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquakes serves as a dual reminder: the physical destruction of a disaster is only the beginning of a long recovery process. While the immediate seismic impact was devastating, the "hidden" toll—disaster-related deaths—remains a significant policy challenge for Japan. Simultaneously, the restoration of Kumamoto Castle serves as a powerful symbol of societal resilience. The project is not merely a construction task but a multi-generational effort to preserve cultural identity, requiring a blend of ancient craftsmanship and modern dedication to ensure that the lessons of the past are physically and metaphorically rebuilt for the future.