December 20, 2005
The Ministry of the Environment issued a report about the ground subsidence in Japan, integrating the leveling survey results gathered by the national and local governments in FY 2004.
In FY 2004, there are 2 regions (1 in FY 2003) which recorded annual ground subsidence over 4 cm. Nine regions recorded annual ground subsidence of 2 cm or more (6 regions in FY 2003), with the subsided area totaling 176 km2 (3 km2 in FY 2003). The greatest level of annual ground subsidence in FY 2004 was 4.7 cm that took place in Kanto Plain in Koshigaya City, Saitama Prefecture and that in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Figs.1 & 2)
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| * Fig. 1 | State of Ground Subsidence in Japan in FY 2004 |
| * Fig. 2 | Changes in Total Area of Ground Subsidence in Japan |