The Annual Reports of the Tohoku Sociological Society
Online ISSN : 2187-9532
Print ISSN : 0287-3133
ISSN-L : 0287-3133
Special Articles “The Great East Japan Earthquake as Social Problem”
Why Do Sufferers of Great Earthquake Conduct the Traditional Events?
Lessons from Somanomaoi after Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunotsuki-Bullfighting after Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake
Kyoko UEDA
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2013 Volume 42 Pages 43-60

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Abstract
How can refugees of great disasters regain their normal life while they have to be in unpredictable situations away from their homelands? Especially for those who are unavoidably out of their lands under evacuation orders because of the devastating damage brought about by the earthquakes, subsequent Tsunami or the nuclear power plant accident, the refugees suddenly become unable to tell where they would be after a year or even a month. They inevitably become ignorant if they can get back their livestock or other belongings left in their homes after the disasters.
 However, two sufferers’ communities attempt to save all the livestock left in their homeland “illegally” and successfully conduct traditional rituals, which have been performed for a thousandyears, accompanied by the saved horses and bulls. From these cases, this paper argues the possibility of the traditional rituals, which can contribute to the restoration of their community-order and the reconstruction of their community itself at the time of great catastrophe. Also this case study points out the necessity of more culturally diversified security in order to sustain the victims’ communities in considering the disaster prevention.
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© 2013 The Tohoku Sociological Society
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