Survey of 671 People Nationwide: 54.8% Prioritize 'Earthquake Resistance' in Custom-Built Homes; 45.2% Worry About Lifeline (Water, Electricity) Disruptions

■Survey on Custom-Built Homes and Disaster Prevention Performance

Disaster risks such as earthquakes and heavy rain are factors that cannot be ignored when choosing a home. A house is a place for daily life and, at the same time, a place to protect the family in an emergency.

So, how do people considering custom-built homes perceive disaster prevention performance?

Therefore, this time, in collaboration with the Chiba Custom Home Administration Office, we conducted a survey on 'Custom-Built Homes and Disaster Prevention Performance' targeting 671 men and women nationwide.

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'Survey on Custom-Built Homes and Disaster Prevention Performance' Overview
Survey Method: Internet questionnaire
Survey Period: May 14, 2026 - May 22, 2026
Survey Target: Men and women nationwide
Valid Responses: 671 samples
Survey Questions:
Q1: When choosing a place to live, to what extent do you check the local government's 'hazard map'?
Q2: If you find that the land you are considering has risks (such as flooding or landslides), what will you do?
Q3: When building a custom home, which 'performance' do you prioritize most?
Q4: When building a custom home, which statement about seismic rating is closest to your opinion?
Q5: When building a custom home, which facility would you prioritize most for sheltering at home during a major disaster?
Q6: If your lifelines (electricity, gas, water) were cut off now, how many days do you think you could survive on your own at home?
Q7: What is the most 'worrying' factor about your current home during a major disaster?
Q8: What is the most reliable source of information for building a disaster-resistant home?
*Note: Percentages are rounded to the first decimal place, so totals may not equal 100%.

■43.4% Responded They 'Briefly Check' the Hazard Map

First, we asked to what extent people check the local government's 'hazard map' when choosing a place to live.

A hazard map is a map showing areas where dangers such as flooding or landslides are anticipated.

The most common response was 'Briefly check' at 43.4%.

'Always check in detail' was 10.9%, and combined, 54.3% check the hazard map in some form.

On the other hand, 'I'm interested but have never seen it' was 20.4%, and 'I don't check at all' was 25.3%. Choosing land is not just about appearance and price; it's also a process of confirming whether you can live there safely and continuously.

■44.0% Responded They Would 'Give Up on the Land' if There Were Risks

Next, we asked how people would respond if they found that the land they were considering had risks such as flooding or landslides.

The most common response was 'If there is even a slight risk, I would give up on that land' at 44.0%.

Next was 'If it can be mitigated with structural or ground improvement, I would consider it positively' at 30.6%.

Furthermore, 'I would buy it as is, without any particular measures or consideration' was 14.0%, and 'If the surrounding environment or price is attractive, I would buy it accepting the risk' was 11.5%. While many people avoid risk, some seem to make decisions based on the potential for countermeasures or conditions.

■54.8% Responded 'Earthquake Resistance' is the Most Important Performance for a Custom Home

We also asked about the most important performance when building a custom home.

The most common response was 'Earthquake resistance (strength against earthquakes)' at 54.8%.

Next was 'Durability (longevity of the building)' at 19.2%, 'Energy efficiency (energy self-sufficiency)' at 13.7%, 'Insulation/airtightness (maintaining room temperature during power outages)' at 8.2%, and 'Fire resistance (strength against fire)' at 4.0%.

Living in Japan, earthquake preparedness is an unavoidable theme. It appears that attention is focused first on whether the building itself can protect the family.

■51.3% Responded They Want 'the Highest Possible Seismic Rating While Consulting Their Budget'

We also asked which statement about seismic rating was closest to their opinion.

Seismic rating is an indicator of a building's strength against earthquakes, ranging from Grade 1 to Grade 3.

The most common response was 'I want the highest possible grade while consulting my budget' at 51.3%.

'Even if it costs more, I absolutely insist on the top rank, 'Grade 3'' was 11.9%.

On the other hand, 'I don't understand the difference in safety between grades and can't choose' was 19.2%, and 'As long as it meets the legal standard (Grade 1), I don't care about higher grades' was 17.6%. The balance between the desire to increase safety and cost seems to be the axis of judgment.

■28.0% Said the Most Important Facility for Sheltering at Home is 'Water Supply'

We asked about the most important facility to prioritize for sheltering at home during a major disaster.

The most common response was 'Water supply (hot water storage tank, rainwater harvesting, etc.)' at 28.0%.

Next was 'Electricity self-sufficiency (solar power, storage batteries, etc.)' at 25.6%, followed by 'Toilet facilities (sanitary equipment usable even during water outages)' at 22.2%.

Furthermore, 'Food storage (dedicated pantry, etc.)' was 14.9%, and 'Maintaining room temperature (high insulation, high airtightness, etc.)' was 9.2%. Water, electricity, and toilets are factors that greatly impact daily life the moment they stop.

■36.4% Responded They Could Survive on Their Own for 'About 3-5 Days' if Lifelines Were Cut

We asked how many days people thought they could survive on their own at home if electricity, gas, and water were cut off now.

The most common response was 'About 3-5 days' at 36.4%, followed by 'About 1-2 days' at 35.0%. Combined, over 70% think they could manage for up to 5 days.

Furthermore, 'Less than 1 day (would struggle the same day)' was 14.6%, and 'More than 1 week' was 14.0%. People sometimes realize their lack of preparedness only after lifelines are actually cut off. It is an area that should be checked regularly as part of daily life.

■45.2% Responded 'Lifeline Disruption' is the Biggest Worry During a Major Disaster

We also asked about the most worrying factor about their current home during a major disaster.

The most common response was 'Lifeline (water, electricity) disruption' at 45.2%. Next was 'Building collapse/damage' at 35.9%, 'Furniture tipping over' at 9.7%, and 'Risks due to location, such as flooding or landslides' at 9.2%.

Anxiety during a disaster is not limited to the strength of the building. Even if the house is safe, life quickly becomes unstable without water or electricity.

■32.0% Responded 'Experts' are the Most Reliable Source for Building a Disaster-Resistant Home

Finally, we asked about the most reliable source of information for building a disaster-resistant home.

The most common response was 'Experts such as architects and home inspectors' at 32.0%. Next was 'Official websites of national and local governments and research institutions' at 27.6%, and 'Representatives from home builders and construction companies' at 19.5%.

Furthermore, 'News media such as TV and newspapers' was 13.7%, and 'Blogs and social media of people who have actually built homes' was 7.2%.