Abstract
The predecessor of the Volcano Disaster Management Council under the Act on Special
Measures Concerning Countermeasures for Active Volcanoes was the Aso Volcano Disaster
Prevention Council, which was established in 1967 around Mt. Aso. The council established
criteria for entry restrictions correspond to weather station information in its disaster prevention
plan, and became the prototype for the current volcano disaster countermeasures under the
Volcano Disaster Management Council. The purpose of this study is to clarify how the framework
of the council mainly consisting of local governments was formed around Mt. Aso, and how the
volcanic disaster countermeasures that predetermined the criteria for entry restrictions
correspond to information from the Japan Meteorological Agency were shaped within that
framework. The results show that, in the course of considering how to respond to repeated
outbreaks of volcanic disasters, the related organizations on the mountain were confronted and
conflicted with each other in the Council, leading to the strengthening of the countermeasures.
