Coastal Mammoth

In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese government launched several reconstruction projects to rebuild the region devastated by the disaster. Part of the plan includes reconstructing and reinforcing seawalls along the northeastern coast, with a budget of $12 billion. Upon completion, an average of 12 meters high of concrete barriers would be erected along the 400km coast, altering the landscape. However, the effectiveness of the structure becomes a concern as the rising sea levels due to climate change may change the trajectory of the future tsunami defense should it come. Perhaps these images of coastal concrete with little view of the ocean offer a reflection of our instinct when facing the threat, uncertainty, and the power of nature: building a wall.