Dear Japanese Geoscience Union,

The Tohoku Megaearthquake from March, 11th, was devastating and distressing -and completely unexpected from geoscientific perspective. It drastically shows,how little we still know about earthquakes and their prediction. I would like toexpress my sincere sympathies to the Japanese people, especially to those wholost family members and friends or their home and belonging because of thedisaster. It is a sad tragedy that despite all the scientific and technicalefforts by the Japanese society which are outstanding and on the highest levelworldwide the country was hit by an earthquake, which is beyond all imaginationand scientific knowledge, exceeding all safety measures.

At present, I am taking part in the IODP expedition 334 entitled "CostaRica Seismogenesis Project (CRISP)". We are investigating the subductionzone offshore Costa Rica which is exactly such an erosive continental margin inwhich the Tohoku Megaearthquake was initiated, i.e. in the Japan trench. Sofar, these erosive continental margins have ascribed to large earthquakes butnot to Megaearthquakes which have been reported for accretionary margins in thehistorical past (e.g. Sumatra, 2004; Chile 1960, and 2010). That is why theinvestigation of Megaearthquakes was focussed on accretionary subduction zonesas in the Nankai and Tonankai trench. The Tohoku Megaearthquake indicates thatwe have to extend our research efforts on Megaearthquakes to erosive marginsubduction zones. The present CRISP-expedition might be a starting point forthis extension and we all were pleased that our seven colleagues from Japancould join the expedition despite its start only three days after thedevastating earthquake.

Our thoughts here onboard the research vessel JOIDES Resolution are with theJapanese people. We admire their patient and persevering way of dealing withthe disaster. We hope that no strong aftershocks will further hit the countryand that the nuclear catastrophe can be stopped.

With my best wishes and highest sympathy in this hard time

Michael Stipp
Research Scientist
IFM-GEOMAR
Leibniz Institute of Marine Research at Kiel University Kiel, Germany

Message from IUGS
A tsunami of solidarity for Japan

Dear Gaku Kimura

The Geological Society of America, along with the worldwide scientific community, is thinking of you, your family, friends, and all of the citizens of Japan during this time of rebuilding from the recent earthquake and tsunami destruction. We are confident that your strength and resolve will allow you to navigate through this tragedy and thrive once again.
Please accept our condolences and know that we stand with you.

Sincerely,

Joaquin Ruiz
President
Geological Society of America

Dear Prof. Kimura,

We were deeply distressed to about the terrible catastrophe which has occurred in north eastern Japan on March 11, 2011, causing immense loss of life.
At this difficult moment in time, our thoughts are with our Japanese colleagues and their family and friends as well as the people in Japan, in general.

On behalf of the council and members of the European Geosciences Union please accept our sincere condolences.

If the EGU and its members can help the JpGU and its members in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kindest regards,

Tuija Pulkkinen
EGU President

Donald B.Dingwell
EGU President-Elect

Philippe Courtial
EGU Executive Secretary

Dear President and Officers
On behalf of the fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society I am writing to send our sympathies for any personal losses which members of the Japan Geoscience Union may have suffered in recent days and to assure you of our continued concern for the future well being of your community in Japan. The fortitude and resilience of the Japanese people encourages us to hope that they will rise above the catastrophe which has devastated your country.
With best wishes for a brighter future

Yours Sincerely

Professor Roger Davies ( President)
Royal Astronomical Society
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BQ

I am currently sailing in the JR with many of my Japanese valued colleagues. I want to post the following message on the JGU website to encourage people after the disastrous damage in Japan. We were not able to access the website directly but were told that sending a message to you was a good option. Please find below my message for the JGU website. Thanks so much and all the best for you and your family in this very difficult time,
Marta
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Message from overseas from the JR (CRISP Expedition)
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As a member of both NantroSeize and CRISP projects, I want to express my profound sympathy to the people of Japan in general, and in particular to all the Japanese scientists who are an integral part of the international community of researchers studying seismogenic zones. Many of you are long time friends and valued colleagues, with whom I have shared many wonderful times. I deeply appreciate all I have learned from you, both as a scientist working to understand seismogenic processes, and as a person. My heart and prayers go to you now in this time of sorrow. I wish all of you the strength to face these difficult moments with the knowledge that there is a community of friends all over the world who are thinking of you now and are ready to help in any way we can.

Marta Torres
CRISP Expedition

Dear Gaku-san,
Warm greetings from IODP drill ship JOIDES Resolution! I would like to express my deepest sympathy and condolence to our Japanese people who suffered from the devastated disasters caused by the Tohoku earthquake and tunami. I am moved by the strong spirit of Japanese people facing and handling this terrible disaster, and I sincerely respect this spirit and wish a speedy recovery of Japan. My heart goes out for you and for the people of Japan at this moment. Together with 5 scientists from Japan and 21 from other countries all over the world, we are here to study the seismogenic zone in Costa Rica. We have to stand together with Japan and work hard to add our knowledge about earthquake dynamics to humankind.

Your Chinese friend,

Xixi Zhao
University of California Santa Cruz

We in America have a great deal of empathy for the people of Japan affected by this disaster. Not only does it grow every day, but our understanding of the full magnitude becomes clearer. The stoic resolve of your country men and women is remarkable and admirable. Be clear that we stand ready to help in any way.
I really appreciate hearing from you and the personal perspective on the disaster. I hope the earth scientists at Sendai University are well and able to begin rebuilding of their lives.

Sincerely, Casey

J. Casey Moore
Research Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences

Dear Dr. Saito:
On behalf of the international geoscience community represented by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) please accept our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Japanese geological community and the people affected by the massive earthquake (Mw= 9.0) that struck off the east coast of Honshu on 11 March 2011.
Japan should be congratulated on the stringent safeguards it has developed to ensure that buildings and infrastructure are built to be resilient and capable of surviving these type of disasters, and to develop and maintain the expertise, organizational capacity, and equipment needed for prevention, early warning and rapid emergency response to natural hazards.
We are aware, however, that this earthquake and its aftermath have shown that there is a limit beyond which all these efforts are neutralized and that even a society like the Japanese, well prepared for this type of events, may be subject to tremendous losses when the effects of the dynamics of planet Earth reach unusual magnitudes in a given situation.
What is needed now to cope with these types of inevitable catastrophes is the ethic that the Japanese are famous for and are exhibiting today as an example for the rest of the world, an ethic in which resilience; perseverance; patience and solidarity are among the most utstanding features.
As a member of the IUGS you are well aware of our organization and its capabilities. Please feel free to call upon us for any assistance that we may be able to provide to you and your country as you deal with your current situation.

With my best wishes and highest regards,

Prof. Alberto Riccardi
President, IUGS
CC: EC

Dear Prof. Kimura:
It was with great distress and sadness that we received the news about the loss of many lives and widespread damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami that struck north-east Japan on Friday.
On behalf of all the leaders, staff and members of the American Geophysical Union, we would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the people of Japan who are undergoing these tragic and traumatic experiences. We convey our deepest sympathy and solidarity to the grieving families of your nation.
We know that lives are still continually threatened by the strong earthquake aftershocks, nuclear issues, basic infrastructure failures and depletion of life-sustaining necessities. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and we hope that the people of Japan be granted the comfort and consolation at this time of immense trial and grief.

Sincerely,

Michael J. McPhaden
President

Christine W. McEntee
Executive Director/CEO

We, at AOGS, are indeed very sorry to learn about the devastation by the 11th March M 8.9 earthquake and the resultant tsunami that has caused wide spread damage and loss of human lives in Sendai and nearby regions. Japan is the most advanced country in the world as far as the earthquake research is concerned.
We are conscious that the tragedy would have been several fold more severe, but for the scientific and technological interventions and implementations of defensive mechanism by Japanese scientists, engineers and administration. We hope that you and your families are safe and wish Japan a quick recovery.
Yours sincerely,
Harsh Gupta, President, AOGS

To my dear friends,

I was shocked and horrified at the events of last week and this weekend, and hope that all of you, your loved ones, and families are ok during this disaster.
Please keep safe, be strong, get a good safety kit together for the many aftershocks that will come over the next several months.
Please pass along my best wishes and hopes for safety to all of your families. I hope for the best for all of you that made such a large and important part of my life in Japan and beyond, and while I cannot offer direct help, should you need anything at all, please let me know and I will do what I can do.

Best wishes and hopes for safety,
Dan Curewitz