projections, and drafting evacuation plans.

Also, as a lesson from the Great East Japan Earthquake, relevant ministries and agencies are working closely to reevaluate the hazard map creation manual.

For tsunamis with a comparatively high rate of occurrence, coastal levees are being developed along with earthquake resistant measures. In case of occurrence, coastal levees and breakwaters with a structure that steadfastly maintains effectiveness even when the tsunami flows over the levee crown will be developed and at the three major ports where population and functions are concentrated, protection standards reflecting the likelihood of high tsunamis with a comparatively high rate of occurring will be evaluated and also the automation and remote controllability of floodgates and land locks will be promoted.

Additionally, to further the strengthening of disaster prevention and mitigation measures and appropriate coastal management, the “Coastal Management Review Committee” was held and in January 2014, the future status of coastal management was compiled.

For ports, to maintain port functions even in the occurrence of large-scale earthquakes, proactive disaster prevention and disaster mitigation measures such as securing refuge areas for large-scale vessels when tsunamis occur and securing navigational routes leading to important locations.

Also, specified ports (86 ports) under the “Act on Port Regulations” have established a “Council on Tsunami Measures for Ships” to further improve tsunami measures for ships at each of the ports with the cooperation of relevant organizations.

For fluvial tsunami measures, in consideration of the liquefaction of levees and tsunami river reversal damages by the Great East Japan Earthquake as well as floodgate operators stricken by disaster, measures such as raising river levees, earthquake resistance and liquefaction measures for levees, automation and remote operation of floodgates will continue to be promoted.

For the four river systems in the Tohoku Region, the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake will be applied to the formulation of earthquake and tsunami measures, geographic changes to the surrounding river mouth area such as land subsidence following earthquakes will be reflected in changes to the “Basic Policy for River Improvement” and the “River Improvement Plan” that follows the basic policy will be formulated and changed, and initiatives for regional reconstruction and town planning such as the development of river levees in the river mouth area will be promoted in coordination with the region.

Regarding tsunami measures for airports, in preparation for large-scale tsunami disasters caused by events such as the great earthquakes along the Nankai Trough, at airports likely to experience tsunami disasters, tsunami evacuation plans that determine evacuation methods and other matters for airport users and others to protect human life will be drafted and tsunami evacuation training and other matters will continue to be carried out in accordance with these plans. Also, plans will be drafted to rapidly recover airport functions following tsunami disasters and initiatives to build cooperative frameworks with relevant authorities in accordance with the plan and other matters will be promoted.

For the tsunami measures of railways, the conditions of evacuation guidance when tsunamis occurred after the Great East Japan Earthquake will be inspected and fundamental thinking for evacuation (speedy evacuation is the most effective and important measure, etc.) for the largest scale tsunamis following something like the great earthquakes along the Nankai Trough will be reflected in the response guidelines and case studies compiled for passenger railways to secure safety when tsunamis occur to promote initiatives by railway companies.

### b. Providing Disaster Preparedness Information Regarding Tsunamis

In order to strive for the prevention and reduction of disasters caused by tsunamis, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is monitoring earthquake activities across the nation around the clock in order to make speedy and appropriate announcements for tsunami warnings/advisories and information. Taking the issues made apparent by the Great East Japan Earthquake, JMA uses the word “huge” for tsunami warnings in the case of large earthquakes with magnitude 8 or more to emphasize that it is an emergency situation as part of new tsunami warnings and other informational wording beginning in March 2013.

As of the end of March 2014, JMA monitors 36 seabed tsunami gauges including three buoy-type ones placed off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku, 16 GPS wave gauges, and 172 coastal tsunami gauges for updating tsunami warnings/advisories and information.