Since 2016, Tohoku University's Center for the Advancement of Open Online Education has offered a range of open-access courses to the public through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These dynamic courses aim to broaden the reach of the university's education and research activities.

A new course, "Earthquakes and Faults: Understanding Japan's Seismic Islands," will debut on January 21, 2026. The course will leverage the expertise of Shinji Toda from Tohoku University's International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS).

The course provides a scientific overview of earthquake mechanisms, seismogenic zones in the Japanese archipelago, and their associated hazard levels, incorporating the latest research findings. By the end of the course, participants will be able to accurately interpret earthquake-related information and seismic hazard maps.

Course Information

Course period: January 21, 2026, 3:00 p.m. - March 24, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (JST)
Course fee: Free

Week 1: Learning the Basics of Earthquakes and Faults
Week 2: Major Inland Earthquakes Caused by Active Faults
Week 3: Chain of Earthquakes
Week 4: Major Earthquakes expected in the near future and Hazard Maps
※This course is offered in Japanese.

A certificate of completion and an open badge will be awarded to those who complete the course requirements.

Registration for the course is now open.

Registration

Registration period: November 5, 2025, 11 a.m. (JST) - March 18, 2026, 10 a.m. (JST)

• Registration link: https://lms.gacco.org/courses/course-v1:gacco+ga205+2026_01/about
• Gacco registration: https://lms.gacco.org/register
• Registration Instructions: pdf