| Almost 300 years have passed since Mount Fuji last erupted, and no one knows how long this lull will last. Fuji has erupted at least ten times since the eighth century. Layer upon layer of lava and ash has helped make Fuji the tallest mountain in Japan. In that 1707 eruption, Fuji belched a cloud of ash that blanketed Tokyo, 70 miles (112 kilometers) away. Based on recent data, some volcanologists suspect Fuji may soon blow again. In fact, during the years I spent in Japan, there were so many earthquakes occurring at the base of Fuji, that they thought it was waking up. Hence, many government agencies and business headquarters were relocating outside of Tokyo, just in case. |
