The collapse of buildings thought to be sturdy, sudden cave-ins of roads, entire towns engulfed by liquefaction...an underlying cause of these phenomena is what is known as soft soil. In the earthquake that struck Japan's Noto Peninsula in January 2024, a building that stood on soft soil toppled over, resulting in many casualties. The latest research has shed light on the surprising mechanism behind soft soil. How can we address this invisible threat beneath our feet? Join us as we spotlight what Japan has learned and its cutting-edge research in tackling ground-related disasters that pose a threat worldwide.