$6.8b sea wall plan aims to beat tsunamis

Four years after a tsunami ravaged much of Japan's northeastern coast, efforts to fend off future disasters are focusing on a 400-kilometer chain of sea walls, at places nearly five stories high.

Opponents of the 820 billion yen ($6.8 billion) plan argue that the massive concrete barriers will damage marine ecology and scenery, hinder vital fisheries and actually do little to protect residents who are mostly supposed to relocate to higher ground. Those in favor say the sea walls are a necessary evil; one that will provide some jobs, at least for a time.

The paradox of such projects, experts say, is that while they may reduce some damage, they can foster complacency. At least some of the 18,500 people who died or went missing in the 2011 disasters failed to heed warnings to escape in time.