When I place large piece of furniture or equipment in the house, I use a thin piece of wood wrapped in newspaper to wedge under the item so that the front is 2to 3 cm higher, making it lean back onto the wall.
Because of this precaution, my furniture did not fall over in the earthquake. However, my family Buddhist altar was not tilted in this way so it fell over.
(Female,aged 74 Higasinada Ward)

Because our house is small, we tried to increase our storage space by putting a storage box that fitted neatly between the top of the cupboard and the ceiling . When the earthquake hit, this box acted as a kind of support and prevented the cupboard from falling down. All our family members who were sleeping nearby were saved,thanks to this.
(Male,aged 28,Nada Ward)

On the day of the earthquake,our family of three was asleep in our apartment on the fouth floor. We were woken up by the earthquake and in pitch darkness my husband and I sat up and found each other by touch , and helpless, we embraced each other.
When the quake stopped, a heavy storage box full of clothing was on my husband`s back and a 3-tier storage box was on mine. Still, our eldest son who lay between us, who was just about to celebrate his first birthday then, remained peacefully asleep, utterly unharmed. When we looked in the cot, which was not being used at the time, we found that all sorts of things had fallen onto it. I think there is no better arrangement than the japanese custom of sleeping with you child in the middle, when your child is still young.
(Female,aged 40,Higasinada Ward)

Fire Deperment Advice
The falling of furniture depends largely on the direction of the earthquake`s shaking. To ensure your own safety,it is necessary to use an L-shaped fixing bracket to bolt your furniture to the wall. Ther were many casualties due to falling furniture.