Abstract
We reanalyzed the results of a questionnaire survey of 720 first-year college students at eight national,
public, and private universities in Japan regarding their awareness of natural disasters. In terms of the relationship
between ‘Geography A’ and ‘Basic Earth Science’ courses taken in high school and awareness of
natural disasters, ‘Geography A’ students were more aware of earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods than were
those who chose ‘Basic Earth Science’. A comparison of the amount of text on natural disasters in textbooks
showed that ‘Geography A’ students were more aware of natural disasters than those who chose ‘Basic
Earth Science’. The higher response of ‘Geography A’ students to natural disasters is related to the amount
of learning about natural disasters in high school.
