Really though, this is a testament to the fortitude of Japan.
Japan got hit by a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake and over 270 subsequent aftershocks of richter scale 4.5 and over and, tsunami notwithstanding, there were few deaths and very few damaged buildings.
The bulk of the loss of life and damage was in and around Sendai when the 30 foot tsunami hit and went across the flat rural land, really the worst place for a tsunami to have hit as there is nothing to slow it down. Plus, there is really no way to plan against a tsunami
Most other places would have had significantly more casualties. I think we should all take a page from the book of Japanese architecture.