Influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster on Families in the Devastated Areas:

Comments on the Symposium on “Disaster and Family” in July 2012

Abstract

    In this paper we discuss the future for families in the devastated areas after the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster as outlined in the July 2012 symposium. This paper aims in particular to comment on the two reports of Ms. Kanome and Ms. Tanami presented at the symposium. The reports indicate that a family strategy of “separating households” is significant for victims recovering from the disaster. Researchers in the field of family studies, should pay attention to the diversity of families in the devastated areas and recognize the significance of a family strategy in order to advise disaster victims trying to reconstruct their daily lives.