Person A: Are you excited about your trip to the mountains?
Person B: I am, but the planning has been fraught with complications. The weather forecast keeps changing, and we’re not sure if the trails will be safe.
In the serene backdrop of Tokyo, far from the tranquility often associated with Japan’s cherry blossoms, lies a ticking tectonic time bomb — the Nankai Trough. On August 8th, at a seemingly ordinary conference held at the University of Tokyo, profound revelations surfaced about this seismic giant poised beneath the Pacific. The first-ever announcement of temporary information regarding the Nankai Trough earthquakes delivered a message wrapped in ambiguity and urgency: a major quake could be brewing, yet its arrival remains shrouded in uncertainty.
The Predictable Unpredictability of Earthquakes
The Nankai Trough, characterized by its complex seismicity, has historically displayed an array of patterns in terms of earthquake magnitude and epicentral regions. Such variability embeds considerable unpredictability into the efforts of forecasting these natural events. This region, notorious for its seismic activity, has prompted researchers to propose three plausible scenarios that outline potential future seismic activities.
Scenario One: The Partial Rupture
Imagine a portion of the Earth’s crust, a colossal rock plate, shifting just slightly at its boundary. This is what researchers fear the most — a ‘partial rupture’ that could potentially escalate into a catastrophic magnitude 9 megaquake. This fear was heightened by a recent magnitude 7 earthquake in the Hyuga-nada Sea, which is suspected to have the potential to trigger such a mega-event. “The Hyuga-nada earthquake is considered a ‘partial rupture’ within the Nankai Trough’s predicted epicentral region,” explained Professor Emeritus Nao Hirata during a press briefing. The implication is stark: a tremor in one part could set off a domino effect across the entire geological fault.
Scenario Two: The Half Rupture
Not all tremors escalate to doomsday events, but the potential always lurks. Historical documents indicate that the region has experienced at least nine major earthquakes since the Hakuho Earthquake of 684, with occurrences and intensities as varied as the landscape itself. A ‘half rupture,’ where only part of the plate boundary shifts, has historically been more common than a complete break. Such events could precede or even foretell more significant seismic activities.
Scenario Three: The Isolated Incident
Sometimes, nature’s fury manifests in more subdued forms. The recent Hyuga-nada tremor might just be a typical seismic event for the region, which has seen frequent, though moderate, quakes over the years. If this is the case, then the current alerts might turn out to be cautionary tales rather than heralds of destruction. “We are aware that not every seismic activity we track will lead to a catastrophe,” remarked an official from the Meteorological Agency, emphasizing the provisional nature of current data and predictions.
The Delicate Dance of Disaster Preparedness
Japan’s approach to disaster preparedness is a delicate balance between alertness and maintaining normalcy. The introduction of the temporary information system is a step towards refining how authorities and the public react to potential large-scale disasters. It aims not only to heighten preparedness but also to avoid unnecessary social and economic disruption.
In the wake of these scenarios, Japan stands on the precipice of potentially transformative geological events. Each scenario sheds light on the multifaceted nature of earthquake prediction and preparedness. As researchers continue to decipher the clues laid out by the Earth, the overarching goal remains clear: to safeguard lives and preserve the rhythm of daily life amidst the whispers of the Earth’s movements.
As we observe from afar, Japan’s saga with the Nankai Trough is a stark reminder of our ongoing dialogue with nature — a dialogue punctuated by both serene whispers and thunderous warnings.
例文: “The company’s growth was boosted by strong tailwinds from the booming tech sector.” （その会社の成長は、好調なテクノロジーセクターからの強い追い風によって促進された。）
会話例: A: “Why has the company’s revenue increased so much this quarter?” （どうして今四半期で会社の収益がこんなに増えたの？） B: “It’s because of the tailwind from the increased demand for our AI products.” （AI製品の需要増加という追い風のおかげだよ。）
例文: “Despite headwinds in the global market, the company managed to increase its revenue.” （世界市場での逆風にもかかわらず、その会社は収益を増加させることができた。）
会話例: A: “The sales in Asia are not looking good this year.” （今年のアジアでの売上は芳しくないね。） B: “Yes, we’re facing significant headwinds from the economic slowdown in the region.” （そうだね、地域の経済減速という大きな向かい風に直面しているよ。）
In recent years, SK Hynix, a major South Korean semiconductor company, has continued to see steady growth in the memory market. Its technical capabilities and competitiveness are attracting significant attention. According to an article published on August 7, 2024, SK Hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung expects memory demand to remain steady until early next year and emphasizes the need to monitor the situation thereafter.
Leadership in HBM Technology
SK Hynix holds a significant advantage over its competitors, particularly in the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) sector. Recently, the company delivered 8-layer HBM3E products to NVIDIA and plans to supply 12-layer HBM3E products to its customers in the fourth quarter of this year. Furthermore, SK Hynix aims to launch the sixth-generation HBM4 12-layer products in the latter half of next year. These advancements reinforce SK Hynix’s leadership in the AI semiconductor market.
Business Strategy and Technological Competitiveness
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has emphasized that AI is an inevitable trend and that only companies that seize opportunities in times of crisis can lead in technology. Chey highlighted the importance of securing technological competitiveness and developing next-generation products, stressing the need to remain steadfast during challenging times. This approach underpins SK Hynix’s continued growth.
Global Expansion and Support
SK Hynix is planning to establish a new semiconductor packaging production base in Indiana, USA. The U.S. Department of Commerce has decided to provide up to $450 million in subsidies for this project, which will enable SK Hynix to further enhance its technological development and production capacity.
Achievements and Future Outlook
In the second quarter of 2024, SK Hynix achieved an operating profit of 5.4685 trillion won, with sales reaching a record high of 16.4233 trillion won. This indicates a return of the memory market’s super cycle, previously seen in 2018, and supports the company’s sustainable growth.
CEO Kwak has expressed optimism about the future of the memory market, committing to proactive innovation and market expansion. SK Hynix’s developments will continue to be closely watched.
Conclusion
SK Hynix’s technological capabilities and business strategy have enabled it to achieve steady growth in the memory market. The company’s proactive investment and development in AI and next-generation memory technologies are key drivers of its leadership position. Moving forward, we will continue to follow SK Hynix’s challenges and achievements with great interest.
Atsushi's Life in Korea 