What Happens if Japan’s Most Powerful Volcano Erupts? ⛩️ Documentary

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Japan's second tallest volcano, which tragically erupted without warning in 2014, becoming Japan's most lethal eruption in over a century with 63 lives lost. It's a reminder that even sophisticated warning systems aren't foolproof.

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A scenic resort town in Hokkaido, attracting 3 million tourists annually for relaxation. It's situated behind a vast network of walls and dams, separating it from the active Mount Usu.

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A terrifying strato-volcano looming over Lake Toya in Hokkaido, known for unleashing its wrath no less than four times in the last 150 years. Its 2000 eruption lasted 18 months, sending ash as far as Sapporo City.

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A unique mountain near Lake Toya that grew out of a wheat field between 1943 and 1945. It's the only mountain in Japan you could have watched grow, and it remains private property, bought by a local postmaster who documented its formation.

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Part of a 2 km stretch of land around Mount Usu deliberately preserved as it was after the 2000 eruption. This silent, haunting reminder shows how suddenly normal life can be swept away, with rocks strewn through the playground and burnt-out vehicles like an old school bus.

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Japan's most active volcano, located in Kagoshima. Since 1955, it has erupted almost continuously, sometimes over a thousand times a year, raining volcanic ash on Kagoshima City. Once a true island, it was permanently welded to the Osumi Peninsula by the 1914 Taiisho eruption.

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A metropolis of half a million residents living at the mercy of Sakurajima volcano. On a bad day, it can rain a blizzard of volcanic ash into the city, making ash removal bags a part of everyday life.

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A 3-meter-tall stone torii gate, two meters of which are buried beneath volcanic ash from the 1914 Sakurajima eruption. It was deliberately left as a reminder to future generations and has become a tourist attraction.

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Japan's most deadly volcano, and one of the deadliest on the planet. Its 1792 eruption caused a massive landslide and mega-tsunami, killing over 15,000 people. In 1991, a pyroclastic flow killed 43 people, including volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft.

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A coastal town in Nagasaki Prefecture that was devastated by Mount Unzen's 1792 eruption, with entire neighborhoods vanishing in seconds due to a colossal landslide. The town has since recovered, with locals living with the constant awareness of the volcano's power.

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A hot spring town in Shimabara where volcanic gases are not toxic, allowing living things to thrive. The ground is scalding hot, benefiting local cats who enjoy the warmth and hotels that save on gas bills by piping natural steam.

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Japan's most iconic mountain, but also a ticking time bomb. Its last eruption in 1707-1708 blanketed Tokyo, over 100 km away, in 800 million cubic meters of ash. Experts predict a 5-10% chance of eruption within the next 30 years, potentially paralyzing Tokyo with $20 billion in damage.

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A stunning flower park at the base of Mount Unzen, offering beautiful views of the volcano. It symbolizes the complicated relationship locals have with volcanoes, appreciating the benefits like fertile soil and hot springs despite the destructive power.