The Great East Japan Earthquake and National Land Planning

Abstract

This article discusses the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake on national land planning in Japan. Just before the earthquake occurred, the National Spatial Planning Act mainly focused on population decline and climate change, while disaster prevention and reduction were also included in main strategies. After the triple disaster in March 2011, anti-disaster topics became more significant in the strategies but remained varied based on region. The article then argues that the regeneration of damaged areas, which had already aged and hollowed out even before the earthquake, can be classified into three goals, i.e. restoration of former situation, adjustment to negative but realistic future, and exploration of new growth. Finally, it concludes that regeneration should be redefined in relation to population decline.