Overview of the World Bosai Forum Public Cultural Event: “Pre-WBF Festival – Learning from the Disaster, Bridging to the Future: Held in Partnership with the Science Agora”

Abstract

This study overviews “the Pre-WBF Festival – Learning from the disaster, bridging to the future: held in partnership with the Science Agora” (the Pre-WBF Festival), and recounts its achievements. This was a cultural, admission-free public event, held as the opening event of the first “World Bosai Forum/International Disaster Risk Conference in Sendai” (WBF). The Pre-WBF Festival was planned primarily by academics with a view towards “passing on experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake,” “bridging the divide between academia and society,” “success of the WBF,” and so on. Parties involved in media provided advice on onstage presentations and public relations activity. The event, which had 662 participants from inside and outside of Japan, was a success. An analysis of the results of a questionnaire demonstrates that the participants understood the intentions of the event and reacted very favorably. Although participation of younger generations remains an issue, the Pre-WBF Festival is thought to be an effective method to connect academia and citizens. In addition, if such an event is held regularly, it can successfully pass on disaster experience in the future.