Japan to build 400-kilometer cement sea walls to repel tsunamis

Japan is planning to build a nearly 400-kilometer long chain of cement sea walls to repel future disasters, four years after a tsunami ravaged much of the country's northeastern coast.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Opponents of the 820 billion yen argue that the massive concrete barriers will damage marine ecology and scenery.

In the northern fishing port of Osabe, Kazutoshi Musashi chafes at the 12.5-meter high concrete barrier blocking his view of the ocean.

Pouring concrete for public works is a staple methodology for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its backers in big business and construction, and local officials tend to go along with such plans.

Head of the UN's Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlstrom said that such a reliance on these safeguards can lead communities to be too complacent at times.