The Yakedake volcano is located in the southern part of the northern Japan Alps, central Japan. Yakedake volcanic hazard map was published in March 2002, and in June 2002, it was distributed to the inhabitants of Kamitakara village, Gifu prefecture, where is located 4-20km west from the volcano. In January 2003, the questionnaire survey was carried out on the inhabitants in order to know their attitudes to the volcanic hazard map and the level of their understanding of the contents of the hazard map. The Kamitakara village office distributed the questionnaires to 1,102 families through the headman of each ward, the headman collected 802 answers. The results of analysis were as follows. 89% of the respondents knew the existence of the hazard map and 35% read it well, but about 11% have not read the map at all. The elders have a tendency to have deeper understanding of the hazard map than younger ones, especially in elders who have experiences to meet some kinds of natural hazards. And the people who once attended the explanatory meeting of the hazard map, which was held for the residents living inside the disaster-prone area four times after the publication of the hazard map, also tend to have more proper understandings. The people who are engaged to the tourism give more attention to the volcanic hazard than others. The respondents have strong tendency to require more knowledge about the volcanic activities and hazards. We can say that the further activities by scientists, engineers and administrative officers are expected in order to establish an informed consent, that is, there should be a decision-making by inhabitants themselves and support by officers in charge with detailed explanations.
