Preface

Each year the Japan Center for Local Autonomy issues its "Local Government System in Japan, English-Language Series". This year,with the focus on earthquake disaster prevention, the necessity for which has been brought home afresh by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, we have issued "Earthquake Preparations in Japan".

The book covers the mechanism of an ｣綢rthquake: the measures being taken at the national and regional level; and what the individual can and should do to prepare for and cope with an earthquake.

The Japanese text was prepared by the Earthquake Disaster Management Division, the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency, the Ministry for Home Affairs, and the translation into English was entrusted to staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs. I would like to express our thanks to all those who have played a part in the publication of this work.

Finally, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Japan

Shipbuilding Industry Foundation (The Nippon Foundation), whose

generous subsidy made publication possible.

March 1997

Toshio Yuasa

Chairman

Executive Board of

Japan Center for Local Autonomy

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