NOMI, JAPAN — A giant curtain of special cables is the latest earthquake-proofing innovation to come out of Japan, and it combines both functionality and sleek design. <br /> <br />With Japan's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire making it prone to earthquakes, citizens are continually finding ways to protect the country's infrastructure. <br /> <br />CNN reports that textile company Komatsu Seiren has created threads made from thermoplastic carbon fiber composite, which are braided to form a strong yet flexible rod that's as strong as iron, but 90 percent lighter. <br /> <br />The rods have been installed outside the company's building - draping all around the structure and essentially tethering the roof to the ground. They are also inside the building, and serve to strengthen the interior walls. <br /> <br />When the ground shifts from side to side during an earthquake, the rods stretch and pull the structure back in the opposite direction to prevent shaking. <br /> <br />The project is a collaboration between Komatsu and Tokyo-based architectural design firm Kengo Kuma. It will soon be used to reinforce Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, one of Japan's oldest temples.
