Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is ordering mandatory maintenance of building signs after an investigation confirmed that approximately 1,500 buildings around the country had signs that were at risk of breaking off and falling on unsuspecting pedestrians.
The investigation was ordered after a woman was knocked unconscious by a large sign that was blown off a building by a strong wind in Sapporo in February. The woman suffered severe cranial injuries.
In their nationwide investigation, ministry officials are inspecting buildings more than 10 years old and three stories and higher, Fuji TV reported. Investigators are looking for signs of corrosion on the metal fittings keeping the signs attached to the buildings, which would indicate a high chance that the sign might fall.
As of Monday, the ministry said that of the 48,000 buildings surveyed so far, signs on 1,516 are in need of immediate maintenance.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
Login to comment
Disillusioned
Ah, the good old Japanese 'post-action' committee steps up to the plate again.
CrazyJoe
Hang in there.
papigiulio
1500.....out of a million?
Sensato
This is an issue in Japan not only with signs, but also with countless awnings, overhead structures and building facades. I see visible threats like this at nearly every run-down/dilapidated 'shotengai' shopping street in Japan where nearly every shop owner is well into retirement age.
Dangers of falling objects will increasingly become a problem as Japan's population ages, and shop owners become less able/inclined to make these repairs.
nath
I'm confused by the deriding tone of your post - are you saying other countries don't react to issues when they are found, or are you saying that the Japanese shouldn't react/do anything when these issues are found?
SenseNotSoCommon
Good on the Ministry. Yes, it sounds a tad reactive, but they're actually being proactive, with a 3% strike rate.
Keep up the good work!
Disillusioned
Strangerland - I am speaking specifically of signage and how everybody sees the precariously hanging signage, but it's only after someone was nearly killed they decide to do something about it. And yes, other countries are much more 'pro-active' about signage and have strict regulations governing the amount and kind of signage that can be installed. And, signs have to be registered and pass local government standards and, they are inspected yearly.
Monozuki
Keep doing it till we can walk with our heads held high. Hang in there!