Japan’s post-2011 tsunami recovery includes one of the most ambitious coastal defense systems ever built, combining massive seawalls with large-scale reforestation. The goal is not invincibility, but buying precious evacuation time and reducing wave impact for coastal communities. Hundreds of kilometers of reinforced concrete barriers were constructed along vulnerable shoreline areas, with some walls reaching up to 15.5 meters high. These structures are engineered to withstand immense water pres