As an island nation with roughly 30,000 kilometers of coastline, Japan¡¯s connection to the sea is as deep as the ocean itself.
This relationship is one of both of dependence, with most of the country¡¯s population living in coastal areas, and fear, as tsunamis and storm surges periodically threaten communities.
A constant reminder of this complex interplay are the concrete structures that line more than 40% of Japan¡¯s jagged coastline. From seawalls and embankments to wave-dissipating blocks and breakwaters, concrete has been used as the principal line of defense against the forces of the sea throughout the postwar period.
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