Abstract
The present paper provides a brief review on the concept risk to facilitate better consideration and meditation on the very subject of risk research or risk communication. Despite the heavy use and dependency on the term “risk” in the contemporary Japanese society, the definition of risk is often quite obscure and misleading. The term risk is often used without a clear definition in daily communication to share information on something that is believed to pose hazard or danger in various contexts. Based on past research, the authors confirm and suggest the most fundamental aspects of the concept “risk” in social science research and practice. The authors also provide explanation on risk perception, and a simple yet fundamental understanding that the concept of risk comprises of other concepts such as hazard and vulnerability was explained. Distinction between peril, danger, hazard, vulnerability and risk were also discussed.
