I've been in 3 earthquakes. Ritcher 3-4 (San Salvador), 5-6 (Taipei) and 6.9-7.1(Tokyo). Although never hit sth as great as 8, I'd say in Japanese (especially in the big cities) people are trained and buildings are built accordingly. I've read reports about Tokyo buildings are built to withstand Ritcher 8s (in civil engineering context and also in newspapers) so your wife shouldnt have much to worry about there.

Re 6.9-7.1 earthquake: http://www.nowpublic.com/environment...kes-tokyo-area

GF and I slept through it, waking up straight after the quake died down and the city seemed pretty quiet from the effects throughout.

I bet if that one had have hit a bit closer to you, you'd have woken up and quite possibly not slept again for a long time. For sheer, mind-numbing terror, big earthquakes are right up there in my book. The feeling that the (very large) building you are in must come crashing down if this shaking doesn't stop is a most unpleasant one.
Sorry OP, wrong man to ask about earthquakes, I'll die happy never having to experience another.

i guess you are right, but i guess this thread is to show how in general japan isnt a place where you ought to worry so much about earthquakes AND die.

We were in Tokyo when the Niigata earthquake occurred in July 2007. We were in our 18th floor hotel room when it happened and we certainly felt it!! Being on the 18th floor and knowing it went up to 32 floors didn't help. We just headed to the bathroom and stood in the doorway - after having seen all the buildings outside swaying - and hoped like hell it would stop!!

Weird thing was, my son, about 30 seconds before hand said "something is not right, something is not right", and then we heard creaking/cracking and thought someone on the floor above was moving furniture around or something. I was sitting on the bed, and it started moving, and I thought it was my hubby mucking around - but as soon as I put my feet on the floor, I knew what it was, and reacted accordingly.

Our reactions were quite different. My son's was delayed, and the next day, at a museum, everytime a train went past nearby, he got spooked. My reaction was immediate, and I felt quite weird for the rest of the day. My hubby, when I asked him what he was thinking just said "I was just worried about having to evacuate the hotel when I'm only in my undies!"

As far as I know, the buildings in Tokyo have been built to withstand a richter 10 earthquake. I was surprised as to how much the building moved though - but I guess the flexibility is a part of withstanding such events.

It is not an experience I wish to repeat, however, that is not stopping me from going back to Tokyo in a few weeks. I figure when it's time for me to go, I won't have much say in the matter.