The Sanriku coast was hit by two huge tsunamis in 1896 and in 1933,
which killed 22,000 and 3,000 persons, respectively. A tsunami detection
network was planned as a joint project with municipalities on the Sanriku
coast in 1992. At the beginning of February 1995, the first tsunami detection
system using an ultra-sonic type tide gauge was installed in Fudai village,
Iwate prefecture. Up to February 1997, tsunami detection systems employing
the same type of sensor were equipped at eight municipalities, including
Miyako city, where the sensor is set up at Chikei fishing port, 2 km SW
from the Cape of Todo, the most easterly point of Honshu.
Fig.1. Testing of sea bottom tide gauge.
Fig.2. The tsunami detection system installed in Fudai village.