Learn fundamental concepts about earthquake disasters in this 16-minute lecture from Professor Junji Kiyono at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Engineering. Delivered at the Centennial Clock Tower Memorial Hall in September 2019, this opening chapter of the Fall-Spring lecture series examines key principles and lessons learned from the Heisei era earthquakes in Japan. Explore essential background information that forms the foundation for understanding seismic events and their impacts on society, drawing from decades of research and real-world disaster experiences.