Making vulnerability of “Help” Acts Invisible From the Perspective of “Kizuna” and “Mutual Help”

Abstract

This research explores the issue of “Help” acts in disaster prevention and mitigation. As a clue, we use the term “Kizuna”, which became popular at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, and “Mutual Help” which was inspired by “Kizuna” at that time. “Kizuna" describes a state in which members of a system or group maintain a relationship of trust through mutual coexistence and sharing of some kind. “Kizuna” is used under disaster to make society aware of the need for support through the clarification of such a relationship of trust, but at the same time, it may have occupied the position of “Charm Words” that praised “Help” acts as a policy term. “Mutual Help” since early modern Japan has had a significant impact on social relations in modern Japan over time, and especially in recent years, in connection with the “Self-Responsibility Theory”, “Mutual Help” has rather strengthened the aspect of suppressing people, weakening the individual, and losing imagination for the possibility of secondary injury, or vulnerability caused by “Help” acts. “Help” acts in a disaster is inherently vulnerable, and its practice should be considered prudent. However, when “Kizuna” is used as “Charm words” in the value system of those in power, it appears to encourage “Self Help” and “Mutual Help”. On the other hand, it masks the imagination of vulnerability and has the potential to expand “Help” acts and apply the theory of self-responsibility to secondary injuries. This structure is the risk of “Help” acts in modern society, and society needs to take countermeasures by passing on memories and experiences of disasters, and by providing education on disaster prevention.