Tokushima Observatory

Ishii 2642-3, Ishii-cho, Myozai-gun, Tokushima 779-3233

The observatory was founded in 1972 as one of the facilities proposed in the Earthquake Prediction Research Project. Situated on the Median Tectonic Line, the observatory maintains a highly sensitive seismic observation network to study microearthquake activity related to the tectonic line and also to a next great Nankai earthquake.

Spatial and temporal distribution of microearthquakes has been routinely analyzed by using the on-line data through an automatic processing system to determine anomalous seismicity prior to large earthquakes. These data also enable the study of the fine structure of the crust and the mantle.