| The Snow Avalanche and Landslide Research Center (hereafter referred to as the center) to which the authors belong is located in the city of Myoko in Niigata Prefecture, and conducts research on avalanches mainly in rural settlements. The center is in an area of Japan with typically heavy snowfall, and last winter (2011/2012), for example, snow as deep as 322 cm was recorded on the premises.After a fatal avalanche occurs, the center launches an on-site investigation as soon as possible to record the avalanche phenomena, speculate on the cause and examine countermeasures.This paper introduces the characteristic avalanches that have occurred, mainly in rural settlements, on Japan’s main island of Honshu over the past six years, and summarizes future challenges with regard to avalanches, which are suggested by the examples. |
