The Reality of Disaster Mitigation Activities for Companies in Tokyo’s Central Business District: A Case Study on Support for Stranded Commuters in the Initial Period in Chuo-Ku

Abstract

In this study, the Council of Policy for Stranded Commuters in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, is considered as an example of local disaster mitigation activities through mutual aid for companies. The process of the activities during the initial period is described, and the points necessary to “establish and maintain the disaster mitigation activities by multiple companies” are summarized. The efforts of the council have led to the development of a community in which various disaster mitigation measures are not limited to those for stranded commuters but include responses to the sick and wounded; these disaster mitigation measures within companies are discussed. As a result, four points are derived as important factors, namely, grasping the local characteristics, forming an organization where the consensus can be built smoothly together with administrative bodies and academics, formulating local behavioral rules, and stipulating the principles behind the activities and the future prospects. The efforts for the local disaster mitigation activities taken up mainly by the residents of communities have been reported in many studies. However, there are few studies on the disaster mitigation activities conducted for companies; as such, only a case study of the measures for stranded commuters in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo has been reported [1]. This is a case study that reports the process of the establishment of disaster mitigation activities for companies; based on the case study of Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, this study takes into consideration the characteristics of Chuo-ku, Tokyo, which has no terminal station.