Japan is a notorious home of earthquakes and not a single year has ever passed free of quake damages. In fact, a major quake is said to be approaching in the so-called Nankai Trough along the coasts of Shikoku, Mie and Tokai regions. Scientists are working like bees to hunt down the nest of a massive earthquake ready to threaten the area.

A deep-sea research vessel “Chikyu” is commissioned to search along the trough for feasible causes of such a quake and just returned to its base port after a successful dive 3260 meters down to the sea bottom. The researchers say the vessel is assigned next to go further down below, 5200 meters or thereabouts, to collect rocks for analysis.

“Chikyu” has been operational for 12 years offshore Wakayama and the current 13th project started back in October last year. The previous record 3058 meters was marked six years ago.

The Nankai Trough is said to lie some 5200 meters deep and the ongoing project is looking for signs of quakes in the rocks from the area. Director of the project Shinichi Kuramoto says the target area is hard to dig and stressed the need for extra care not to shake the rocky structure loose. “We are all out to somehow nail down possible causes of major quakes down there.”

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