Japan Disaster Countermeasures - Legal Analysis

Abstract

Japan is a country prone to natural disasters. The frequent occurrence of disasters results from the archipelago or the group of islands scattered in the water bodies along the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanoes and earthquakes surrounding the Pacific Ocean. Natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions are frequently witnessed in these areas due to these geological conditions[1]. A comprehensive and systematic implementation of disaster management regulations has made these achievements. The act [2]includes disasters such as storms, heavy rain, snow, floods, high tides, tsunamis, earthquakes or unusual natural events, conflagration or explosion, or any other damage[3]. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake was a devastating disaster that Japan witnessed. From these mega-disasters, the Japanese learned about infrastructural resilience, risk identification, finance management, prevention and preparedness in a holistic approach. They gave predominance to planning, infrastructure resilience, financial security for future disasters, preparedness and preventive measures through collaboration with government and non-governmental agencies[4].

Massive natural catastrophes have made a significant negative impact on the lives of the people who live in these areas. In addition, these natural disasters can quickly undo all the years of developmental work by the nation. The poor and vulnerable are the most affected group of people by natural disasters. Therefore, the government of Japan created a holistic approach in collaboration with international organisations to face the frequent disasters. Their legal regulations, along with technological advancements, accurate early warning systems, and equipment used in the pre-and post-disaster period, created tremendous changes in the lives of the Japanese people. This article helps to analyse the legal regulations for disaster management in Japan, the responsibilities of the people to prevent the occurrence of disaster in stopping or the spreading of disasters, and the rehabilitation steps to be taken after the occurrence of a disaster by the central Disaster Prevention council are discussed in details. The three types of disaster management plans for proper disaster management are basic disaster prevention plans[5], operational disaster prevention plans[6] and local disaster prevention plans [7], which were also discussed in detail.