A country renowned for its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Japan is also well-known for its incredible disaster management strategies and ability to rise again from total destruction, making it one of the most resilient nations in the world (Lloyd’s Register Foundation Work Risk Poll, 2022).
An archipelago of 14,125 islands, Japan lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it susceptible to frequent natural disasters. The country sits at the convergence of four major tectonic plates, making it a hotbed of seismic activity, and setting the stage for Japan’s vulnerability to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and typhoons. This unique geological location lends the country its stunning landscapes along with a constant threat of nature’s unpredictable dangers. This emphasizes the importance of preparedness and resilience for the nation.
Frequent Destruction
The Land of the Rising Sun has faced several catastrophic challenges over the past 100 years- the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 that flattened Tokyo, the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the Kobe earthquake of 1995 shortly followed by the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, and the triple shock of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in the Tohoku region in 2011, marked as one of the five most powerful earthquakes measured in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900. In October 2019, Typhoon Hagibis caused widespread destruction and death. Not to mention the 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on the very first day of the new year 2024. The frequent destruction, some say, has instilled a sort of strength and resilience in the Japanese people.
The Japanese Way
Home to more than a hundred active volcanoes, almost 20% of the planet’s earthquakes with magnitude 6 or more are concentrated in Japan. Yet the number of victims is much lower than elsewhere, thanks to a real culture of risk prevention. The concept of ‘Bosai’ or disaster preparedness is deeply ingrained in Japanese societies, right from the fundamental level. The philosophy lingers in everyday life, through regular evacuation drills, learning essential skills like first aid, sheltering, and community exercises rendering the importance of community support during emergencies. This individual preparedness ensures that people know how to handle disasters.
Heavy investment in hazard-resistant infrastructure, both physical and technological is another pillar of Japan’s resilience. The country boasts the biggest infrastructure for flood prevention in the world, comprising a network of more than 6 km of underground pipes and a gigantic main reserve tank. The system has resulted in four times fewer flooded zones and cut the number of affected houses by two-thirds.
The cutting-edge engineering and technological innovation implemented in Japan’s disaster management sector is impressive. About 4000 checkpoints are installed all over the archipelago, which instantly measure the magnitude of an earthquake and send an immediate nationwide warning (EEW- Earthquake Early Warning System). The incidents from the Great East Japan Earthquake (magnitude 9.0) in 2011 demonstrate the efficiency of these systems: 100 Shinkansen high-speed trains in operation were immediately stopped, resulting in no accidents or deaths; many buildings swayed but remained intact, and tsunami walls minimized the most severe impact of the waves.
An example of an earthquake-resistant architectural marvel is the Sky Trees in Tokyo, a symbol of the capital city- standing at 634 meters, can offset up to 50% of the energy affecting the tower, thanks to a system of shock dampers that connect its central concrete pillar to external steel elements. The tower also serves as a telecom system providing data during the event of natural disasters, another key element of Japan’s ingenious risk prevention system.
A look at how the country tackled the astounding amount of debris produced during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, the most economically devastating disaster in history, is surely a chapter for the world to learn. It was estimated that 6.15 million tons of debris was produced, equal to a city’s typical waste output in 103 years, all in just a few days. The authorities, though overwhelmed by the destruction and scale of the challenge, set to work in no time. Just two months after the event, the Ministry of the Environment laid out clear guidelines with key activities to be undertaken in each municipality to deal with the disaster debris, which included clean up, segregation, offsite transportation, and final deposit of debris. The guidelines also stressed maximizing recycling opportunities, urging local governments to ensure efficiency in contract management and the maximization of local employment in the whole process.
The Re-emergence
As beautiful and delicate as a cherry blossom Japan is, it has also shown the world that it is itself as resilient as a sturdy tree in a storm. After every disaster that upturns the land, it gets back up and emerges stronger. Even at the community level, the display of resilience and endurance could be observed. The international observers were struck by the calm and civility of the people after the Tohoku earthquake of 2011. As forementioned, resilience is an intrinsic trait preached and practiced in Japanese culture.
The rebuilding of Tokyo following the 1923 earthquake and again after the 1945 bombing by the US Air Force- transforming it into the modern city we know today, a complete reimagination of Hiroshima as a Peace Memorial City post the nuclear attack, and how the Kobe earthquake is now considered as a turning point in Japanese civil engagement, after which volunteering to assist post-disaster became a norm. The Tohoku Triple disaster urged the government to pursue alternatives to nuclear energy with a trend towards renewable energy. The local government of Fukushima aims to power the region with 100% renewable energy by 2040. There is also the growth of a new kind of tourism- called ‘hope tourism’.
Hope tourism, the antonym of ‘dark tourism’ allows visitors to see the current state of disaster-affected areas and meet the locals involved in shaping its future, and also urges the participants to start thinking about the future: concerning energy, local communities, and an overly consumer-driven culture. It is also a way of reminding the people of the impact of disasters, since the Japanese, being frequently exposed to disasters, find it easy to forget and make the same mistakes again.
Conclusion- Japan: A Global Teacher
While pioneering its disaster management, Japan is also generous enough to actively share its expertise and help other countries build their own resilience systems. From earthquake-resistant construction techniques to community engagement strategies, Japan imparts its hard-learned lessons to the world through international conferences, training programs, and collaborative research initiatives. Japan is always ready to assist and many neighboring countries, like Indonesia, rely on Japan’s vast expertise for a safer and better life. This generosity of spirit reflects the nation’s understanding of disaster preparedness- that it isn’t competitive, but a shared responsibility crucial for a safer, more resilient world.
The key takeaways from Japan’s thriving nature are emphasizing preparedness, exploiting technology, nurturing community cohesion, and fostering a culture of resilience. As climate change intensifies the planet’s vulnerability to natural disasters, the Japanese model of resilience offers a blueprint for all nations, reminding us that being prepared is not merely a disaster response, but a key factor in building a future where communities can thrive, despite being in the shadow of uncertainty.
References:
EuroNews. (n.d.). Japan: A World Leader in Disaster Prevention. Retrieved January 4, 2024, from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5GTesltZkw&ab_channel=euronews
Gardiner, K. (2020, July 02). Why are the Japanese so resilient? Retrieved January 03, 2024, from BBC Travel: www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200630-why-are-the-japanese-so-resilient
Tyler, A. (2016, March 10). 5 Years Since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Retrieved January 03, 2024, from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2016/03/5-years-since-the-2011-great-east-japan-earthquake/473211/
UNEP. (2012, June 22). Managing post-disaster debris: the Japan Experience. Retrieved January 04, 2024, from wedocs/unep: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/8136/-Managing%20post-disaster%20debris_%20%20the%20Japan%20experience-20121122.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
Images:
- Image showing Japan’s position in the Ring of Fire_© asiapacificcurriculum.ca
- The devastated downtown of Hiroshima in the 1945 nuclear bombing by the US_.© National Archives
- The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Tokyo, the world’s largest underground flood water diversion system_© Japan Info
- Houses, some ablaze, are swept by seawater following a tsunami and earthquake in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011_© Kyodo/ Reuters
- The Tokyo Skytree_© tripadvisor.com
- Disaster debris covers a huge area in Natori, near Sendai on March 13 2011_© Mike Clarke / AFP / Getty
- Hiroshima was the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and has since been completely reimagined as a Peace Memorial City_© Navapon Plodprong /Getty Images
- Members of a Japanese disaster relief team conduct a search and rescue operation in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, following the Turkey-Syria earthquake on February 9 2023_© Kyodo News/ Getty Images
