If the matter rarely being a problem is the bar to meet, then Japan and Seattle have both met that bar. Seattle is less prepared but the quakes of note are als

If the matter rarely being a problem is the bar to meet, then Japan and Seattle have both met that bar. Seattle is less prepared but the quakes of note are also more rare, so both meet the "rarely causes problems" standard. It wouldn't make sense for every place to prepare as much as Japan for things that are less likely there than in Japan. Does Japan have as many tornado shelters as Kansas? Probably not.