Tokyo (like most Japanese cities) does indeed have mitigation measures such as earthquake-resistant buildings that put most other countries to shame. I stood in front of my Tokyo hotel on March 11, 2011, while the city shook, but most damage that I saw afterward in Tokyo was confined to broken windows. Furthermore, the people of Japan heroically rescue and help each other following disasters. However, the professional emergency management picture still needs work. Japan’s government administrative system has not supported the development of professional emergency managers, so there is no Japan FEMA, and things like All-Hazard Planning, the Incident Command System, and Emergency Support Functions are not be found in Japan, making interagency coordination extremely difficult in disasters. My organization, IIGR, is working with our Japanese friends to help them strengthen their system for disasters.
Recovery Diva 
Tokyo (like most Japanese cities) does indeed have mitigation measures such as earthquake-resistant buildings that put most other countries to shame. I stood in front of my Tokyo hotel on March 11, 2011, while the city shook, but most damage that I saw afterward in Tokyo was confined to broken windows. Furthermore, the people of Japan heroically rescue and help each other following disasters. However, the professional emergency management picture still needs work. Japan’s government administrative system has not supported the development of professional emergency managers, so there is no Japan FEMA, and things like All-Hazard Planning, the Incident Command System, and Emergency Support Functions are not be found in Japan, making interagency coordination extremely difficult in disasters. My organization, IIGR, is working with our Japanese friends to help them strengthen their system for disasters.