1995 Kobe earthquake

This quake, which killed about 6,000
caused more than $100 billion in
damage during Japan's lost decade

1942-45 FIREBOMBING OF TOKYO

Less well known than attacks on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki,U.S. raids on
Tokyo killed over 100,000 in 1945 alone

1923 GREAT KANTO EARTHQUAKE

Striking at lunchtime, the 7.9
magnitude quake leveled much of
Tokyo and killed more than 100,000

A HISTORY OF JAPANESE PAIN

19th century The Great wave
Hokusai's iconic woodblock print reflects
the Japanese cultural awareness of
menacing tsunamis