Lessons From History for Today and Tomorrow: Lessons From History for Today and Tomorrow:

Disaster prevention in Japanese schools following the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake

Disaster prevention in Japanese schools following the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake

JANET BORLAND, The University of Melbourne, AustraliaJANET BORLAND, The University of Melbourne, Australia

Tokyo, 1 September 1923

Kobe, 17 January 1995

JAPAN

Tokyo, 1923

Kobe, 1995

Seeking Refuge

Tokyo, 1923

Kobe, 1995

Aceh, 2004

Temporary Schools

“When the earthquake happened I was watering the flowers in my garden. I thought it was the end of the world. Then I heard people shouting that a big wave was coming. We all ran as fast as we could…”

- Zulbaidah, 6th grade primary school student

Children’s Experiences, Indonesia 2004

Children’s Experiences, Japan 1923

‘We tried to escape outside but the earthquake was so strong… We were surrounded by the noise of sliding doors falling, china breaking, roof tiles crashing to the ground and people’s terrified cries for help. I thought we were going to die like this.’

- Okano Shigeru, 3rd grade primary school student

Fires burned for 3 days Destroyed 43% Tokyo

91,344 dead 13,275 missing 52,074 injured

1 Million people homeless

Magnitude 7.9

Lessons Learned in 1923

1. Build safe schools

2. Teach people how to prepare for disasters

1. Build safe schools

2. Disaster risk education

UN Disaster Risk Reduction Campaign 2006-2007

Why Build Safe Schools?

• Schools as important place of learning in community in ordinary times

• Schools provide shelter for refugees in immediate aftermath of disaster

• Schools help children and community resume ‘normal’ lives

How were Japanese school children affected?

The earthquake and fires :• destroyed 117 out of 196 primary schools in Tokyo• displaced 145,998 out of 239,087 school children

Reconstructing Safe Schools in 1923

School Reconstruction Program, 1924-1930 • Built using steel frames and reinforced concrete • Earthquake- and fire-resistant• Cost ￥ 41,056,383

Creating Resilient Individuals through Education

Resilient individuals possess:

1. Physical strength

2. Psychological fortitude

What can we learn from Japan in 1923?

• Urge solid construction of schools in disaster-prone regions and investment in infrastructure

• Develop disaster preparedness programs in schools

• Promote extra-curricular activities which teach practical skills of disaster preparedness

• Designate a national ‘Disaster Prevention Day’ to conduct drills and raise awareness

• Encourage researchers to share findings across borders, across disasters, and across time

‘Natural disasters strike when people least expect it’- Terada Torahiko

「天災は忘れたころにやってくる」　 - 寺田寅彦