The historic magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck eastern Japan back in March of 2011, setting off a cascading chain of events that ultimately resulted in an ongoing nuclear catastrophe, was unfortunately not "the big one" that has been predicted to strike Tokyo for many years. In anticipation of the Tokyo's next major seismic event, developers have been working on ways to reduce the potential damage. Elevated land-based islands are what Keiichiro Sako of Sako Architects is proposing for the Tohoku region of north-east Japan, another Japanese company, Air Danshin Systems Inc., has come up with another solution - they fit out existing houses to levitate in the event of an earthquake and Japan government officials consider building an alternative capital to allay fears of another natural disaster.

Now two Japanese companies have unveiled plans to retrofit older skyscrapers with a device that could help to reduce the impact of major quakes on the buildings and potentially save lives in the process.

Developed by real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan Co. and general contractor Kajima Corp, the several hundred ton seismic control device could suppress vibrations and counter the effects of a potentially destructive earthquake. The giant steel pendulums work by being hung on a building at rooftop level. In the event of an earthquake, they will apply force in the direction opposite of "long-period seismic motions," halving the amplitude of vibrations.

The project will be unveiled on top of Shinjuku Mitsui Building, a 55-story skyscraper in Tokyo, in 2015 at a cost of US$ 51 million. The trial system will feature six pendulums, each weighing 300 tons. The system is also compatible with older buildings, meaning that all of the country's skyscrapers could be retrofitted with protection from seismic damage.