Damage to Cultural Properties in the Great East Japan Earthquake

The following is a list of Japan's designated cultural properties that suffered damage from the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. In the Tohoku region, a total of 250 cultural properties were damaged, while in the Kanto area, which includes Tokyo, a total of 435 cultural properties suffered damage.

Built in 1906, Izura-Rokkakudo in Kita-Ibaraki City was washed away by the March 11 tsunami.

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by Zoe Ward

Will people still buy high-rise apartments?

This is a translation of an article that appeared in Japanese tabloid Nikkan Cyzo, so take it for what it is.

The March 11 Tohoku Disaster changed the mindset of many Japanese. The real estate market was no exception, with many a shift in the mentality of buyers.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Increased risk of large quake in Miura-hanto fault group

  • Earthquake risk has increased as a direct result of Tohoku earthquake
  • 11% chance of Magnitude 6.7 quake occurring within the next 30 years

The Japanese Government's Earthquake Research Committee announced on July 11, 2011, that the March 11 Tohoku earthquake has increased the chance of an earthquake occurring along the Miura-hanto fault group.

It has been predicted that there is a 11% chance that the Miura-hanto fault group will produce an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 within the next 30 years. This fault group is classified among the most active faults in Japan.

Experts warn that a large earthquake caused by the Miura-hanto fault group could produce a Read more

by Zoe Ward

Temporary upswing in real estate market in Sendai

The 2011 rosenka land valuations released by the National Tax Agency on July 1st showed a decline in land prices across Japan for the third continuous year. Concern is rising, however, over a large scale crash in prices in areas of Northern Japan that were affected by the Tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant where real estate transactions have almost ceased.

Sendai City, on the other hand, is experiencing a hike in emergency demand from displaced residents.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Property values rising in Tsunami affected areas

Real estate transaction prices on properties in North Japan's tsunami affected coastline have seen recent increases since the March 11 earthquake. The buyers include residents who have lost their homes as well as property developers anticipating future redevelopment.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Real estate transactions by listed companies fall 40% in April-June

  • Pre-quake transactions for 1st qtr of 2011 were 788.3 billion Yen
  • Post-quake transactions for 2nd qtr of 2011 fall to 246.4 billion Yen
  • Companies expecting fall in earnings and profits
  • Reduced supply of properties
  • Power shortages mean no recovery expected until at least September, 2011

The total value of real estate transactions made by publicly listed companies between April and June, 2011, fell 40% to 246.4 billion Yen. This is the lowest level for this quater since 2003. Following the March 11 Tohoku Disaster, many sales were postponed and the property market quickly descended into chaos. With the supply of properties also falling, the market is expected to take a while before bottoming out.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Does your apartment building have earthquake insurance?

*If you own an apartment in Japan, you can take out optional earthquake insurance. This insurance only covers your apartment and does not cover the common areas of the building or the structure itself. The management association for the building can take out earthquake insurance on the common areas, but as it turns out, less than a third of all buildings are covered.

Owners of apartments in uninsured buildings are facing great repair bills as a result of the March 11 Tohoku Earthquake.Read more

by Zoe Ward