i said to a family member the minute NHK TV broke in with the pre-warning, "OK, here it comes, let's get ready for it"....and sure enough it came in like a train from a distance, and then the full freight train went through the living room...just as expected. it is very weird knowing in advance...but yes, helpful. we took measures. within seconds they had computer graphics up, location, depth, intensity, tsunami warnings, live TV remote cameras from NHK TV bureaus in the region (webcams) streaming the shaking and some aftershocks...but announcers were precise, exact, calm and authoritative.
Japan.
Earthquakes, crowds and high prices aside, you gotta love it. And it's TECHNOLOGY.
The Japanese People are a people who generally learn lessons. The whole kaizen mentality, down to a ridiculously anal retentive level at times.
Kobe 1995 was their big teacher, their wake up call, to get things in order, no doubt.