Surrounded by four tectonic plates, the Japanese archipelago is an earthquake-prone zone crisscrossed by as many as 2,000 active faults in an area of only 377,800 square kilometers. In recent years it has experienced serious earthquakes of magnitude 7 or above. Earthquake resistance and earthquake proofi ng in homes and other buildings are thus vital objects of research for the purpose of saving lives and preventing property damage.

Japan also lies in the path of heavy rain and high winds caused by typhoons. In consequence, another important focus is that of giving buildings resistance to wind, and making them airtight and watertight.

Primarily through our Central Research Laboratory, we are working to enhance the structures and capabilities of housing so that it can resist direct assaults by the forces of nature. Our focus is that of improving products and technologies by means of experiments to confirm the performance of our products with the use of facilities such as full-size experimentation chambers able to reproduce a variety of climatic conditions; equipment for testing environmental factors such as the ground, the strength of materials, light, heat, and sound; and trial structures for which actual dwellings are used.

Research is also conducted into the space within dwellings, and into next-generation housing adapted for compatibility with the immediate environment, and incorporating energy conservation and information technology features. In ways such as these we undertake comprehensive research into the house and home as it is today and it will become tomorrow.