★ A major new work by Kazuo Oike, former President of Kyoto University! This authoritative seismologist, who accurately forewarned the Great Hanshin Earthquake, pens his first introductory book on active faults for the general public!
★ The movement of an active fault causes the ground to shake violently for only about 10 seconds, and the same fault will not move again for another 1000 years. Once the shaking of these 10 seconds is over, one can then enjoy the benefits brought by the active fault. The concept of “a thousand years of pleasure for ten seconds of fear” will overturn the traditional understanding of active faults, not only analyzing seismic risks but also revealing the civilization and ecological values nurtured by fault zones.
★ Features a special case study on the successful prediction of the 1975 Haicheng Earthquake in China, showcasing 50 years of technological progress and practical experience in earthquake forecasting!
★ English translation samples available.

The Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line fault zone where minor quakes persistently increase, the Tachikawa Fault beneath Tokyo capable of triggering a magnitude 7.4 mega-quake, the fault zones that gave birth to Kyoto's rich water culture... This book provides an accessible explanation of the current state and fundamentals of active faults, written by the former President of Kyoto University who previously issued warnings ahead of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the Kumamoto Earthquake. A full-color map of Japan's active faults is included at the front.

While active faults are commonly perceived as terrifying, the truth is that our rich lifestyles are often possible precisely because of them. This book also introduces this other side of active faults. The intense ground shaking from their movement lasts merely around 10 seconds. The next significant movement on the same fault might not occur for a millennium. By enduring these brief seconds of shaking, one can later reap the blessings these geological features provide. Reportedly, a government official responsible for disaster prevention, after hearing the author's explanation, coined the phrase: "Active faults: A thousand years of enjoyment for ten seconds of fear."

The book also delves into how active faults are discovered, earthquake preparedness measures, earthquake prediction, and more.

[Key Topics Covered]
■ The "Overlooked Report" That Existed Before the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
■ Nuclear Power Plants and Active Faults
■ Methods for Investigating Active Faults
■ Regions Without Active Faults
■ Submarine Active Faults – The Highly Unusual Case of Minamitorishima Island
■ 50th Anniversary of the Successful Prediction of the Haicheng Earthquake (China)
(In 1975, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Liaoning Province, China. By detecting precursors and evacuating residents, casualties were successfully reduced.)
■ A Prosperous Life Built on Safety and Peace of Mind

Kazuo Oike
Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University. Earth Scientist. Specializes in Seismology. Holds a Doctorate in Science from Kyoto University. Born in Tokyo in 1940 and raised in Kochi. Graduated from the Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University in 1963. Became a Professor in the Faculty of Science in 1988. Served as the 24th President of Kyoto University, President of Kyoto University of Art and Design, and President of Shizuoka Prefectural University. Has held positions including Chairman of the Seismological Society of Japan, Chairman of the Japanese Geopark Committee, and Member of the Government's Investigation Committee on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident.

Chapter 1: Earthquakes Caused by Active Faults
Chapter 2: Active Faults After a Major Quake
Chapter 3: Discovering Active Faults
Chapter 4: Coexisting with Active Faults
Chapter 5: Types and Mechanisms of Earthquakes
Chapter 6: Earthquake Prediction
Chapter 7: A Prosperous Life Built on Safety and Peace of Mind