【Specialized Fields】

Earth science, volcanology, geology, science communication

【Background】

Born in 1955. Graduated from Komaba High School attached to the University of Tsukuba. Graduated from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo. After working for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), professor at the Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University since 1997. Since 2021, professor emeritus at Kyoto University and a specially appointed professor at Kyoto University's Resilience Practice Unit. Current position from October 2023. Doctor of Science (University of Tokyo).

【Publications】

"History of the Earth" (Chuko Shinsho, 3 volumes)(in Japanese), "Volcanic Eruption" (Iwanami Shinsho)(in Japanese), "Mt. Fuji Eruption and the Nankai Trough" (Kodansha Bluebacks)(in Japanese), "Living Wisely on a Shaking Earth - Kyoto University Earth Science Professor ``Final Lecture'' (Kadokawa Shinsho)(in Japanese), ``Earth Science You Need to Know'' (Iwanami Shinsho)(in Japanese), and ``Kyoto University Popular Lecture: Seismology for Survival'' (Chikuma Shinsho)(in Japanese).

【Message】

In the field of earth science, which is my specialty, we predict that a huge Nankai Trough earthquake, an eruption of Mt. Fuji, and an earthquake directly hitting the Tokyo metropolitan area will occur in the near future, and that earthquakes and eruptions will continue unabated for several decades. A huge Nankai Trough earthquake is expected to occur in the 2030s, affecting 68 million people, half of the total population. The Great West Japan Earthquake will cause 10 times more damage than the Great East Japan Earthquake, and before and after it, there is a possibility that an earthquake directly hitting the Tokyo metropolitan area will cause five times more damage than the Great East Japan Earthquake, and that it will also trigger an eruption of Mt. Fuji. Both are severe disasters that shake the very foundations of Japan and require urgent countermeasures. Furthermore, climate disasters are becoming more severe due to global warming, and the global cooling caused by giant eruptions may force changes in decarbonization policies. We propose disaster prediction and mitigation measures based on cutting-edge earth science, and examine them from the perspective of resilience management science while taking into account social issues such as environmental impact.