Japan’s western economic center, Hanshin region marked the 20th anniversary of the devastating earthquake on January 17 that took lives of 6,434 people in Kobe city and surrounding areas.

The construction industry has been exploring anti-quake technologies in a full swing since the catastrophe in 1995, especially in seismic isolating and vibration controlling. Major companies have developed various technologies from base isolators for urban development to quake monitoring system in the recent year.

Bridgestone, a Japanese leading tire maker started production of super large-sized lubber isolators for high rises as tall as 150 meter. Taisei Corp. developed quake resisting structure for densely built-up urban areas, introducing new oil dampers.

Takenaka Corp. enhanced its remote monitoring system of base isolators and begun adaptation to renovation works. Shimizu Corp. is promoting its floor system of double-piled steel panels which can absorb seismic vibration, targeting a medical surgery room. Kajima Corp., together with Mitsui Fudosan installed the world’s first large-sized vibration controlling unit on top of a high rise in Nishi Shinjuku, Tokyo. (2014/1/16)