The National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Building Research Institute (BRI) jointly published an English report on the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (Great East Japan Earthquake). This report is based on the Quick Report of the Field Survey and Research on “The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake” (written in Japanese) issued in May 2011 by NILIM and BRI, which contains damage data collected through on-site surveys and analysis results obtained by late April, and in addition, new investigation results on such as buildings with base isolation are included.

In total 130 researchers of NILIM and BRI joined on-site surveys from Iwate prefecture to Chiba prefecture. The contents of this report include outline of damage announced by MLIT etc. and analysis of earthquake and tsunami by IISEE/BRI, followed by damage of buildings by earthquake motion, tsunami and fire as well as damage of residential land and so on. In particular, characteristics of damage of buildings by earthquake motion and tsunami are explained and analyzed by structural types from the data and knowledge obtained at this stage.

It is our great pleasure that many experts and citizens will increase their awareness and improve their knowledge against earthquakes and tsunamis by information on the Great East Japan Earthquake in the field of building disseminated to the world through this English report.

The English report can be downloaded at the following web-sites:

English report: BRI English Top Page: http://www.kenken.go.jp/english/

http://www.kenken.go.jp/english/contents/topics/20110311/0311summaryreport.html

IISEE Tohoku Earthquake data:http://iisee.kenken.go.jp/special2/20110311tohoku.htm

Quick Report in Japanese:

http://www.kenken.go.jp/japanese/contents/topics/20110311/0311quickreport.html

Shoichi ANDO
Director, IISEE