Like other people in the Tokyo metropolitan area who were living in a high-rise when the March 11 earthquake struck, we subsequently decided to move.
The problem was not the structural integrity of our building, which was not damaged at all. According to a survey by the Condominium Management Companies Association, even high-rises in the Tohoku region "performed" excellently. None collapsed, and only 1.6 percent required "large-scale" repairs. More than 80 percent sustained only slight cosmetic damage or none at all.
For us the issue was more a matter of quality of life. Elevators automatically shut down during an earthquake and can only be turned on again by a certified technician. It might be days before they are operational again. Also, when electrical power is lost through either damage or design (planned blackouts), high-rise living is virtually impossible, and not just because of elevators: Water supply and sewage systems require power.