Orange shading indicates magnitude 8Other shading indicates magnitude 7

Protecting the public from disastersProtecting the public from disasters

Natural disasters in JapanFew countries in the world are as prone to disasters as

Japan with its harsh natural conditions. In 2005, for example, an earthquake struck off the west coast of Fukuoka Prefecture, and Typhoon No. 14 left a swathe of destruction in its wake.

Protecting life, limb, and property from such calamities is among the most important missions of government. In close coordination with relevant ministries, the Cabinet Office works to make Japan more resilient against natural disasters — taking preventive steps, framing emergency response measures, and promoting recovery and reconstruction.

Comprehensive disaster management programsThe main initiatives implemented by the Cabinet Office in

the field of disaster management are as follows.

1. Preparing for earthquakesIn any of several parts of Japan — the Tokai region, the

Tonankai and Nankai areas off the Pacific coast, the seas around the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench, directly beneath Tokyo itself — a massive earthquake could strike at any time, wreaking colossal damage. To prepare for earthquakes in each of these areas, the Cabinet Office is implementing preventive measures on a priority basis in line with the Government’s Earthquake Response Strategy; it is also beefing up emergency response measures in accordance with emergency response guidelines. To prepare specifically for a possible earthquake centered directly under Tokyo, it is drawing up guidelines on how to maintain the city’s vital functions as the nation’s capital in the aftermath of an earthquake, look after people left stranded away from home, and accommodate refugees.

2. Preparing for volcanic eruptionsThe Cabinet Office studies possible measures for

responding to volcanic eruptions. In doing so it refers to hazard maps compiled for thirty-seven volcanoes located throughout Japan, as well as to information on volcanic activity released by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The Office is preparing in particular for a possible eruption of Mount Fuji, drawing up a Basic Policy on Broad-area Response to a Mount Fuji Disaster, which outlines the far-reaching disaster response regime that will need to be mobilized in the event of an eruption.

3. Disaster preparedness trainingThe Cabinet Office takes steps to establish a well-honed

disaster response regime in readiness for potential emergencies. This accomplishes in several ways. One is through comprehensive disaster response drills held each September 1, which is Disaster Preparedness Day in Japan, being the anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923; another is through earthquake or other disaster simulation exercises conducted within the Government.

4. Support for evacuation of those requiring assistanceThe Cabinet Office develops measures to support the

evacuation of those requiring assistance in the event of an emergency, such as the elderly and the disabled. Specifically, it facilitates action by municipalities by formulating guidelines for such procedures as forwarding information on evacuation readiness, sharing information on

individuals requiring assistance, and drawing up evacuation support plans.

5. National campaign to alleviate damage from disastersGovernment cannot do the job of reducing the damage

wrought by natural calamities all on its own. That is why the Cabinet Office is vigorously implementing a national campaign to raise disaster awareness among individual citizens, neighborhoods, and communities, and encourage them to take concrete steps to prepare for a possible disaster.

6. Smoothing the way for volunteersWhenever disaster strikes, volunteers rush to the scene

from all corners of the country, and they do a remarkable job. The Cabinet Office, working with relevant ministries, makes every effort to smooth the way for such volunteers by, among other things, creating opportunities for them to meet.

7. Helping companies enhance resilience to disastersThe Cabinet Office encourages companies in the private

sector to take their own steps to prepare for disasters. For example, it promotes widespread adoption of Business Continuity Plans (BCP), which are designed to enable firms to get back up and running quickly in the aftermath of a disaster. It is also studying possible mechanisms whereby disaster preparedness would increase a company’s valuation.

8. International cooperation on disaster managementThe United Nations World Conference on Disaster

Reduction held in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, in January 2005 adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action, an international disaster management strategy that aims to achieve a substantive reduction in damage from disasters over the next ten years. In line with that goal, the Cabinet Office promotes international cooperation so that Japan’s abundance of knowledge, technology, and human expertise can be harnessed to efforts to alleviate the impact of disasters around the world.

Waters off Nemuro

Chishima TrenchWaters off Tokachi

Epicentral areas of ocean trench earthquakes and major active faults

Waters off the northern Sanriku coast

Waters off the Sanriku coast Should an earthquake occur simultaneously off Miyagi Prefecture and the southern Sanriku coastWaters off Miyagi Prefecture

Waters off Eastern Fukushima Prefecture

Japan Trench

Izu-Ogasawara Trench

Directly beneath Tokyo

Kanto

Sagami TroughTokai

Tonankai

Nankai TroughNankai

Sea of Hyuga

Overview of functionsEnsuring public safety

The Central Disaster Management CouncilWhen the central government ministries were

overhauled in January 2001, the Central Disaster Management Council was placed under the aegis of the Cabinet Office, where it functions as one of the Cabinet’s advisory councils on key areas of policy. It is chaired by the Prime Minister, with a membership consisting of the entire Cabinet along with several experts. Since the reorganization of the central government, heads of local governments and members of the academic community have also joined the roster.

The Central Disaster Management Council’s tasks include submitting views in response to referrals from the Prime Minister and the Minister of State for Disaster Management. It also functions as an executive organ, promoting implementation, for example, of the Basic Disaster Management Plan.

Responding when disaster strikesWhen a typhoon or an earthquake strikes,

everything is ready to go into action. A special office is set up within the Cabinet Office to gather and pool information, and emergency response measures are promptly set into motion. The Government also takes steps to assess the situation by quickly sending fact-finding teams to the stricken area.

If the disaster is of such magnitude that it requires action on a national scale, an Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters is established chaired by the Minister of State for Disaster Management and staffed by senior officials from the relevant ministries. Its job is to ensure swift implementation of emergency response measures.

Future challenges

Disasters can happen at any moment. The Cabinet Office is committed to beefing up the Government’s disaster response capabilities in preparation for the inevitable day when a major earthquake, windstorm, or flood strikes. It is also committed to promoting a national campaign to heighten disaster awareness among individual citizens, enhance the ability of communities to respond to calamities, and thus increase disaster readiness on all fronts of society. In these and other ways the Cabinet Office is working to guarantee the safety and security of Japan’s people.

Inspecting damage from heavy snows (Niigata Prefecture)

Prime Minister Koizumi inspects damage from an earthquake off the west coast of Fukuoka Prefecture(Photo courtesy of the Cabinet Public Relations Office)

Organization of the Central Disaster Management Council (as of December 2003)

Central Disaster Management Council

Chairman

Chairman

Advisor

Vice-Chairmen

Director-General for Disaster Management, Cabinet OfficeDeputy Manager of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency

Members

Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet OfficeDeputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management

Directors general from individual ministries

Members

Prime Minister

Makes referral

Reports back

Submits viewsChiefs of designated public corporations (4)

Academics (4)

Minister of State for Disaster ManagementAll other Cabinet Ministers(no more than 17)

Secretarial Committee Special boards of inquiry

Functions

Prime M

inisterM

inister of State for DisasterM

anagement

• Special board of inquiry on the Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes (formed October 3, 2001)

• Special board of inquiry on inheriting the lessons of past disasters (formed July 31, 2003)

• Special board of inquiry on trench-centered earthquakes around the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench (formed October 27, 2003)

• Special board of inquiry on promoting a national campaign to alleviate damage from disasters (formed December 9, 2005)• Prepares and promotes

implementation of the Basic Disaster Management Plan and the Earthquake Disaster Management Plan.

• Prepares and promotes implementation of plans for emergency measures to be implemented in case of disaster.

• Deliberates on key matters relating to disaster management in response to referrals from the Prime Minster and/or the Minister of State for Disaster Management (e.g., basic disaster management policies, overall coordination of disaster response measures, declarations of emergency)

• Submits views on key matters relating to disaster management to the Prime Minister and the Minister of State for Disaster Management.