Japan Sinks

"A chillingly realistic work of science fiction." ― The New York Times.
After dropping anchor for the night near a small island to the south of Japan, a crew of fishermen awaken to find that the island has vanished without a trace. An investigating scientist theorizes that the tiny island has succumbed to the same force that divided the Japanese archipelago from the mainland ― and that the disastrous shifting of a fault in the Japan Trench has placed the entire country in danger of being swallowed by the sea.
Based on rigorous scientific speculation, Japan Sinks recounts a completely credible series of geological events. The story unfolds from multiple points of view, offering fascinating perspectives on the catastrophe's political, social, and psychological effects. Winner of the Mystery Writers of Japan Award and the Seiun Award, this prescient 1973 science-fiction novel foreshadowed the consequences of the 1995 Osaka-Kobe earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

One of Japan's leading science-fiction writers, Sakyo Komatsu (1931–2011) was also a television reporter. His other books include Virus and Sayonara Jupiter.
Japanese translator Michael Gallagher currently contributes to several websites, including Truthout.org and ContraryPerspective.com.

I. The Japan TrenchII. TokyoIII. The GovernmentIV. The Home IslandsV. The Sinking CountryVI. Japan SinksEpilogue