2017 年 30 巻 p. 77-86
Military-level mutual cooperation between Japan and U.S. in the field of disaster relief in Japan germinated since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. After the earthquake, some of local authorities hosting U.S. Force Japan(USFJ) started to build a cooperation with USFJ for disaster relief. The Great East Japan Earthquake accelerated and expanded these relationships. At present, contribution of USFJ to disaster relief in Japan is incorporated with institution for JapanU.S. Defense Cooperation and local authorities not hosting USFJ also start to building a disaster relief cooperation with USFJ. Major challenges of the cooperation today are solving institutional ambiguity (e.g. conditions for disaster relief by USFJ) and expanding opportunities for cooperation between local authorities and USFJ such as joint expertise.
