Disaster Chaplain and Its Task after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami(<Special Issue>Religion and Calamities)

Abstract

Soon after being hit by a disaster, the local clergies in the West spring to action as a disaster chaplain as a matter of course. They support survivors through spiritual and religious care while maintaining good relations with secular healthcare teams and government. After the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, many clergies in Japan supported survivors in many ways and people still need their help. They have provided activities around death, grief care, prayer and counseling to console people for their grieving and anxiety. Four cases are shown in this paper to study about how we can establish a system for disaster chaplain in Japan. The clergies in the cases have interfaith relations, do not aim to proselytize, and provide religious care. Before the next disaster happens, we need to have 1) interfaith organizations and common standards for chaplains, 2) relationships of mutual trust with healthcare teams and government, 3) an examination on the quality and effect of religious care, and 4) a system that takes into account the diversity of each community.