It’s a fairly common sight in Joetsu, particularly for government buildings. This company shows a list of seismic retrofitting projects that it has done in Joet

It’s a fairly common sight in Joetsu, particularly for government buildings. This company shows a list of seismic retrofitting projects that it has done in Joetsu, for example: https://www.sato-san.jp/works/list.php?cat_id=11 https://www.sato-san.jp/works/list.php?cat_id=11 There are also subsidies and financing available in Niigata prefecture for seismic retrofitting wooden homes built before 1981: https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/jutaku/1356814927041.html https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/jutaku/1356814927041.html For sure though there are many homes in the area that have never been retrofitted.