"From seawalls that line stretches of Japan coastline, to skyscrapers that sway to absorb earthquakes, to building codes that are among the world’s most rigorous, no country may be better prepared to withstand earthquakes than Japan. Had any other populous country suffered the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan on Friday, tens of thousands of people might already be counted among the dead. So far, Japan’s death toll is in the hundreds, although it is certain to rise..."Read the full story: Japan’s Strict Building Codes Saved Lives
Japan Building Codes Saved Lives, Says NYT
Following the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday, the New York Times published a report that credited the country's strict building codes for saving lives.