60% of People Express Concern About Possible Earthquake in Near Future- Revealed by NRI Internet survey of attitudes toward earthquakes -

60% of People Express Concern about Possible Earthquake in Near Future

—Revealed by NRI Internet survey of attitudes toward earthquakes—

December 21, 2004
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.

Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI: Tokyo; Akihisa Fujinuma, President, CEO & COO) conducted an Internet questionnaire on attitudes toward earthquakes on November 11 – 14, 2004. The results show that while consciousness and action relating to earthquakes are still low, a vague concern about a disaster occurring is heightening in Japanese society.

The survey shows that many people are concerned about earthquakes. On a national average, nearly 60% of respondents think that an earthquake with a magnitude of just under 6 or over on the Japanese seismic scale could occur in the area where they live during the next three years. However, the replies that respondents gave to questions about preparations that they are already making for an earthquake, countermeasures that they are thinking of tackling from now on, and recognition of the local government's earthquake countermeasures also reveal that people's actual consciousness toward earthquakes is low and their preparations are inadequate. The main points of the survey results are as follows.

I.	Nationwide 60% of people think that an earthquake with a magnitude of just under 6 or over on the Japanese seismic scale could occur in the area in which they live during the next three years. Regionally, however, there is a large variation in the figure. While 84.6% of people in the Tokai region think that such an earthquake could occur, the corresponding figure for Kyushu and Okinawa is low at 27.3%.

II.	Regarding preparations for earthquakes, looking at the degree of consciousness and the state of actual preparations, the ratio of people who have a high degree of consciousness and are thoroughly prepared is low. Rather, the survey reveals that more people have either a low degree of consciousness and have made almost no preparations or have some degree of consciousness but have made no practical preparations.

III.	Trends can also be seen by region and by generation. There are many people in the Tokai region with a high degree of consciousness and who are prepared but few in the Chugoku region and to the west. And while many elderly people show a firm consciousness and have made preparations, the ratio of younger people with a low degree of consciousness and preparedness is relatively high.

IV.	Regarding recognition of earthquake countermeasures being carried out by local governments, the ratio of respondents with no knowledge of the local government's countermeasures ( "hardly any knowledge" and "no knowledge at all" combined) is about 85%, showing that recognition of the local government's countermeasures among residents is low.

V.	As means of obtaining information about the local government's earthquake countermeasures, most respondents reply that they get information from printed matter, such as the local government's newsletter.

The survey results show clearly that a large gap exists between the increasing concern about earthquakes and the degree of actually implementing preparations. At present, the reality is that there are limits on the prediction of earthquakes, and we do not know when and where earthquakes will occur. Therefore, rather than just a vague concern spreading in society, it is necessary in all regions to promote everyday preparations and earthquake countermeasures by local governments and to make the public aware of those countermeasures. In particular, it is hoped that local governments will adopt more active policies to propagate information about countermeasures, including the utilization of various media besides only printed matter.

[For general inquiries, please contact:]
Miyako Kusakabe / Takeshi Nomura
Corporate Communications Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
Phone: +81-3-6270-8100
E-mail: kouhou@nri.co.jp

[Reference]
Survey Questionnaire on Earthquakes
Date of survey: November 11 – 14, 2004
Survey method: Internet questionnaire survey (infoQ)
Number of respondents: 1,180
(For details, see http://www.nri.co.jp/english/opinion/nr/pdf/nr20041221.pdf)

Q1: Do you think that an earthquake with a magnitude of just under 6 or over could occur in the region where you live during the next three years? (single answer)

Consciousness and Action in Preparation for an Earthquake

*Compiled from replies to four questions: "Q1: Do you think that an earthquake with a magnitude of just under 6 or over could occur in the region where you live during the next three years?" ; "Q2: What preparations have you or your family made for an earthquake?" ; "Q3: What preparations are you thinking of making from now on?" ; and "Q4: Do you know what earthquake countermeasures are being implemented by the local government in the area where you live?"

Q4: Do you know what earthquake countermeasures are being implemented by the local government in the area where you live? (single answer)

Q5: How do you know about the earthquake countermeasures in the area where you live (multiple answer)

Q6: What earthquake countermeasures do you want the state and local government to tackle from now on? (multiple answer)

Q7: What do you think are the most important efforts in about the first week after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 or over has occurred? (multiple answer)

*This questionnaire was conducted utilizing the "infoQ" Internet research service, which is operated jointly by the NRI and GMO Media and Solutions Inc. ( http://infoq.jp).

To List of Press Releases