International Post-Disaster Cooperation Toward Recovery and Keeping Memories Alive –Exploring Their Close Relationship–

Abstract

After a certain span of time, newer generations cannot remember the live lessons learned by previous generations from disasters. This becomes increasingly difficult as new generations evolve, particularly when the generation holding the personal experience of the disaster has passed away. This letter examines the possible effects of international support activities for disaster victims and rebuilding from disaster (referred to as “international post-disaster cooperation toward recovery”) on keeping disaster memories alive across generations. It is difficult to define a direct relationship between international post-disaster cooperation toward recovery and disaster recollection, because the period of international post-disaster cooperation toward recovery being implemented does not coincide with the new generation remembering the disaster and learning from it. However, this letter identifies the potential benefits of international post-disaster cooperation toward recovery for keeping the memories of the disaster alive in newer generations.