The Effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on Stay-type Allotment Gardens and Some Issues of the Response to the Effects

In Case of Fudouson and Hippo Kleingartens in Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture

Abstract

We investigated the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake on stay-type allotment gardens (kleingarten, KG) and their management entity's response to these effects in case of Fudouson and Hippo KG in Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture. As the results, 1) Immediately following the earthquake, management entities ascertained the safety of their users and carried out rescue operations in response to victims on their own accord. 2) After the earthquake, a portion of both KG's users retired from their KG. On the other hand, both KGs now have users of victims of the earthquake and workers involved of reconstruction efforts. 3) Institutions such as the KG should be provided with a system for responsibility allocation during emergency for user evacuation and a plan in advance that would allow the KG to act as a safety net, preparing for a large disaster.