Abstract
Recently, Japan has been experiencing a rash of natural disaster and it is well known that public-aid that can be provided by the governments has limitations under a big disaster. Then, the need for preparedness for natural disaster by self-help and mutual help is recognized andit is tried to make social capital to enhance the disaster response capacity. This study aims to empirically analyze whether social capital enhance the disaster response capacity. We surveyed social capital and preparedness of natural disaster in Mashiki-town, Kumamoto, Japan. It is
made clear that the area with enhanced disaster response capacity is enriched with social capital but the area with enriched social capital does not always possess enhanced disaster response capacity.
