Japan absorbs shocking news

– Japanese officials yesterday ordered a company that falsified data on the quality of its earthquake shock absorbers to replace its products in hundreds of buildings, including a major tourist site and venues for the 2020 Olympics.

KYB Corp, a major producer of the shock absorbers, which reduce shaking in buildings during a quake, said data related to the quality of its products and those made by a subsidiary, had been falsified since 2003 and possibly even 2000.

Government officials said there was no risk that buildings would collapse, even in a severe quake, but they were trying to determine how many structures were at risk in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries.

The company said at least 900 buildings around Japan were affected. – Reuters

Tokyo