Could It All Collapse? Architect Koen Klinkers on Earthquakes, Permits, and Japan's New Building Codes
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Show Notes
Did you know? A majority of homeowners prefer their house doesn’t collapse while they’re inside of it!
Earthquakes are a topic that permeates nearly every foreigner discussion around Japan—especially when it comes to purchasing an older akiya.
So how safe is it?
Japan-based Dutch architect Koen Klinkers walks through the key things to inspect and consider when buying a home in Japan, followed by a review of Japan’s latest round of building safety codes: why it exists, what it means for home buyers, how it affects renovations, tips on permitting, and so much more.
Check out Koen Klinkers at Front Office Tokyo: https://frontofficetokyo.com/
Read about Japan's new building codes here: https://www.adfwebmagazine.jp/en/architect/impact-of-japanese-building-code-revisions-from-april-2025-on-renovation/
00:37 Introduction & Koen on the 2025 World Expo
03:04 The April 2025 Building Standard Law Revision
07:44 Permitting & the Japanese government’s enforcement power
12:07 Bathrooms & moisture damage
13:09 Environmental restrictions
18:24 Are Pre-1981 homes safe to live in?
23:05 Are earthquake safety inspections necessary for akiya buyers?
24:57 Earthquake resistant materials: Drywall
27:39 The permitting process & tips on working with contractors & local government
32:29 How are updated codes announced and distributed?
33:48 Joey & Take’s new build - wood vs. steel
35:11 Japanese housemakers - Customizations & how they work