Could Japan be hit by another massive earthquake? - Asia Specific podcast, BBC World Service

How prepared is Japan for a major earthquake? A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Japan has once again raised fears about the long-anticipated “big one”, a devastating megaquake that scientists say is overdue. Click here to subscribe to our channel ?? https://bbc.in/3VyyriM Japan experiences around 1,500 earthquakes every year, but experts warn that a major quake along the Nankai Trough could trigger massive tsunamis, widespread destruction, and potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths. In this episode of Asia Specific, host Mariko Oi speaks with former BBC Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes and Asia Specific journalist Derek Cai to explain what a megaquake is, why the Nankai Trough is so dangerous, and how prepared Japan really is. We also reflect on lessons from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and whether such disasters can ever be predicted. This episode was recorded on 22 April 2026. 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What damage did the earthquake do to Japan on 20 April? 05:12 What is a megaquake? 08:00 Why the magnitude 9.0 quake in 2011 didn’t destroy many buildings in Japan 09:00 Why an earthquake in the Nankai Trough could have a devastating impact on Japan 11:09 How locals in Japan feel about the possibility of a megaquake 12:40 Do we have the technology to successfully predict when an earthquake will happen? 14:35 Are locals in Japan prepared for a megaquake? 16:36 What are the lessons the Japanese government learnt from previous quakes? Watch more episodes of Asia Specific here ?? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz_B0PFGIn4c3njIxB0KHuO8SS2mBMtUc Instagram: @bbcworldservice Email: [email protected] Presenter: Mariko Oi Producers: Derek Cai, Rachel Lee Camera: Muhammad Firdaus Bin Mohd Ansary, Rosalehin Bin Rosli, Khairul Danish Bin Mohd Roslee Editor: Bill Birtles ---------------- This is the official BBC World Service YouTube channel. If you like what we do, you can also find us here: Instagram ?? https://www.instagram.com/bbcworldservice Twitter ?? https://twitter.com/bbcworldservice Facebook ?? https://facebook.com/bbcworldservice BBC World Service website ?? https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Thanks for watching and subscribing! #BBCWorldService #WorldService #asiaspecific #asiaspecificpodcast #Japan #Earthquake #Tsunami