Collaborative, Science-Based, Public Disaster Communication - The NHK Media Technology 3D Documentary Movie on Japan’s 2011 Tsunami Event

Abstract

A 3D documentary movie, “The Great Tsunami in Japan: Reflecting on the 2011 Disaster,” was produced and screened as a collaboration between the academic community and the media in order to communicate lessons from the tsunami that accompanied the Great East Japan Earthquake. The movie was first shown in March 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. This article discusses issues and outcomes of the collaboration in terms of the publicity activities of disaster research. An analysis of comments from viewers, Japanese and overseas guests alike, revealed a generally high evaluation of the film. The following outcomes were noted: 1) a large and varied audience, 2) the communication of academic information to members of the general public with no apparent resistance from them, and 3) an impressive presentation of the event, the subsequent reconstruction works, and the importance of keeping the memory of the disaster alive. Future issues will include deeper collaboration between the academic community and the media for disaster risk reduction purposes as well as studies on how such 3D images and movies can affect the passing down of memories of the disaster.