Tonight, I felt the ground shake. Don’t worry. It was just a tremor, and it wasn't frightening, but it’s the first time I’ve experienced it in Japan.
Actually, I am probably one of the last teachers on our program to feel a tremor. Several have experienced the sensation since we arrived.
Japan is one of the world’s most seismically active countries on earth. On Saturday, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least nine people in a rural area of the country.
Japan averages about 1,500 earthquakes per year. The country also has 108 active volcanoes.
Earthquakes are so common in Japan that most hotels have flashlights in every room, in case the power goes out. Also, most public buildings have hard hats. We’ve seen helmets in many of the classrooms we’ve visited.
The Japanese have become so accustomed to tremors that they hardly seem to notice.
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