According to a recent survey by the Japanese Red Cross, almost 70% of Japan is inadequately prepared for a significant earthquake. The data highlights considerable shortcomings in personal safety measures, infrastructure resilience, and emergency responsiveness. This revelation reinforces the need for urgent, widespread improvements to avert potential devastating consequences during seismic events.

Japan, situated in a seismic hotspot, often experiences earthquakes and thus its citizens highly value the need for earthquake preparedness measures. The issue is deeply rooted in Japanese societal and legal norms, with an emphasis on protecting human life and maintaining societal order during disasters. This news could incite public criticism towards inadequacies in government policies regarding earthquake readiness.

In the US or EU, natural disaster preparedness also plays an integral role, though the focus might differ depending on the prevalent threats - hurricanes in the US, for instance, or flooding in certain regions in EU. Government agencies and organizations conduct regular drills, community education programs, and infrastructure upgrades to improve readiness. However, the partition of responsibilities and government urgency may vary widely compared to Japan.