This paper addresses the need for the use of participatory workshop methods to improve everyday disaster response capacity locally within communities. Most current workshop methods mainly address disaster risk awareness and focus on personal post-disaster actions, despite an increasing need to create an implementable action plan by moving beyond enhancing risk awareness. This type of implementable action plan is required in order to enable participants from a local community to collaborate together. A method called the Yonmenkaigi system, originally developed in a local community in Japan, is presented for this purpose. The Yonmenkaigi system is designed to consist of the following steps: carrying out a SWOT analysis, completing the Yonmenkaigi Chart, debating between groups, and presenting a group action plan. As demonstrated in a case study carried out in the City of Kyoto, this method shows its relevance and effectiveness in developing collaborative action plans for preparedness and mitigation in disaster reduction activities in a community.

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  This paper describes a newly developed information system dedicated to promoting the earthquake disaster mitigation practices of residents themselves. The system is based on a type of simulator that presents realistic personal disaster scenarios, related to actual seismic hazards, in order to help each resident gain awareness of his/her own hazard level, and to comprehend the need and methodology for making preparations. The simulator is built around a web-based online geographic information system known as WebGIS, and integrates a series of subsystems that provide a number of features including a high-resolution hazard map system capable of creating three-dimensional birds-eye overviews, a system for evaluating earthquake ground motion at a specific location, as well as a system for simulating earthquake effects and the possible collapse of a wooden house at a site (including the risks of falling indoor furniture). Furthermore, in order to provide comprehensive information on seismic hazards and disaster mitigation, various related programs that utilize online systems (including WebLog, Wiki and other interactive interfaces) have been incorporated. The applications of these systems to community disaster mitigation workshops in Nagoya City are described, together with the newly constructed web systems and education facilities of the Aichi Prefectural government.

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  This paper reports a research study on disaster reduction education, at both a senior high school and in a local community in Japan. The research was guided mainly by the theory of “community of practice (CoP)” proposed by Lave and Wenger (1991). This theory provided a useful framework by which we achieved long-term and collaborative learning in disaster education, to deal with natural disasters with a long return period. A gaming approach was introduced in this year-long action research project, as a key medium to realize long-term and cogenerative learning by diverse stakeholders, ranging from high school students, local residents, local government workers, and disaster experts. This gaming approach covered the whole process, from co-planning, co-production, and co-dissemination of game-like education materials. The results suggested the clear superiority of cogenerative disaster education (along with a transformation of CoP structure) over conventional, knowledge internalization-oriented disaster education.

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  This study introduces the process technology for implementation scientists to enter a disaster field and provides two case studies by focusing on the technology. First, its theoretical background is introduced. Second, it defines process technology as know-how for implementation and practice, capacity building and social development for knowledge ownership. Third, it further elaborates on process technology for acceptance in a community. Then, it provides two cases of process technology use, one for the relief stage and the other for the revitalization phase. Finally, future views of this technology are discussed with emphasis placed on teaching methods for this technology.

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  Disaster volunteering as a participatory approach to disaster mitigation was investigated by examining a case study of student disaster volunteering following the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake on October 23, 2004, which caused serious damage in Niigata Prefecture in Japan. Immediately after the quake, we started promoting disaster volunteering based on mid-and long-term perspectives. A student group worked as disaster volunteers in collaboration with a consortium of other disaster nonprofit organizations. Through the student activities, the group established a moderately familiar relationship—neither too close nor too distant—with the residents of temporary housing. In this article, the significance of the students’volunteer activities was examined based on a philosophical discussion about waiting and listening. Furthermore, the importance of liberation from the rigid relationship of aid provider and aid receiver is discussed.

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