How are the buildings in tokyo good for earthquakes?

Question:

I've heard that wooden buildings are better for earthquakes because they are more flexible, and stuff like that. But does anybody know what Japan has? and like are they prepared for a huge earthquake to come and destroy them and stuff???

Answer:

I believe Japan is the most advanced country in the study of earthquake (necessity is the mother of invention). A variety of anti-quake technologies are being applied to newly built buildings.

The skyscrapers in Shinjuku (Tokyo), for example, are designed to absorb the tremors rather than resist the underground vibrations. In other words, flexibility of the structure is more emphasized than conventional buildings that were built with the principle of "stability." In fact, the skyscrapers visibly swing with the tremors but never shake the buildings, which is logically far more effective for the protection of the high-rise structures.

At the time of Mar 11 quake, they literally swung from side to side even after the tremor was over (due to the law of inertia), but perfectly kept them safe.
You may want to watch this video shot at the time of the quake from the skyscrapers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACKMPD6My…