Study on Participatory Management for Community Preparedness under Large-scale Earthquake Risk

Abstract

Earthquake disaster mitigation and preparedness are rapidly increasing concerns in Japan, particularly, in the Tokai region where a large earthquake is expected to occur within the next few decades. This paper discusses a participatory approach as a method to increase community participation using the case study area of Nishibiwajima-town in Aichi Prefecture. Important implications for disaster risk management are derived and discussed based on a network development model of participants sharing roles in the prosess of enhancing disaster preparedness on a community level.