The Cabinet has approved a set of ground rules for protecting the people in the event of a military, terrorist or missile attack on Japan. The rules, officially called "Guidelines Concerning the Protection of the People," state what protective measures the government will take in such an emergency.
Japan may not face a clear and present danger, but it is better to be prepared (the nation already has military emergency legislation). Preparedness requires crisis management, and those on the receiving end of protection -- the people -- should be more aware of potential dangers. At the same time, the nation must be better prepared for other types of emergencies, especially natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Disasters, natural or not, hit at unexpected moments. The earthquake that struck Fukuoka Prefecture earlier this month surprised even seismologists. The Great Hanshin Earthquake of 10 years ago and October's Chuetsu Earthquake in Niigata Prefecture caught residents completely unaware. So it was with the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.