Abstract. Japanese buildings are constructed with straight lines. European buildings however, tend to have arched rather than straight horizontal lines. Roofs, window frames and the tops of doors are often arched. European buildings are made not from wood but from stone. The reason for these differences is explained by mechanical theory.

Received: January 17, 2013

AMS Subject Classification: 51A02, 00A09, 97A20

Key Words and Phrases: earthquake, architecture of window frame, curves and straight lines, culture of stone architecture

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