Since a devastating earthquake was predicted 30 years ago for the Tokai region, an observation network has been set up that the Meteorological Agency claims to be one the world's best.
However, quake prediction is still part guessing game.
Scientists have predicted that the Tokai quake would have an intensity 7, the top of the Japanese scale, and a magnitude of about 8. Under one scenario, the temblor would be expected to kill about 10,000 people and destroy some 260,000 buildings in Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. It would also jolt Aichi, Kanagawa, Nagano and Gifu prefectures with an intensity of 6.