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Description of the symposium

With ten years left to achieve the Sendai Framework and the SDGs, we face a world ravaged by a novel coronavirus pandemic, extreme weather events linked to climate change, and thus high likelihood of multi-hazard compound disaster events. The need to strengthen resilience to disasters has never been higher.

‘Going local’ in DRR, shorthand for identifying and drawing on community resources for community DRR, is a concept coming out of the Tohoku Region of Japan and its lessons learned through recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). The concept is based on the learning that disaster resilience of communities is built as much on the strength of community systems as on physical and technological ‘hard’ DRR solutions; however, there exists great disparity among communities in the strength of such systems. Work is underway to identify key components of community systems and resources that contribute to resilience, and to define them through international standards, so that they may be better managed.

ARISE Japan, the local network of Ä¢¹½´«Ã½â€™s private sector alliance, will focus on ‘going local’ in DRR, i.e. how communities draw on community resources for DRR, to explore key Sendai Framework concepts such as the ‘whole-of-society approach’ ‘integrated disaster risk management’ and ‘local action,’ and discuss the role of the private sector in community development and engagement, at this event held on the tenth anniversary of GEJE, in an SDGs-aware era under climate emergency. 

This event is open to the wider private sector and other stakeholders in Japan. Note all presentations and discussions will be conducted in the Japanese language; no translation services provided.

Supporting Organizations

Japan Bosai Platform (JBP)

Association for Resilience Japan

Global Compact Network Japan

Event Information

Time: 15:00-17:00 JST, online (Zoom).

Room opens 14:45. Note all presentations and discussions will be conducted in the Japanese language; no translation services provided.

This is a free event, however, advance registration is required (see online registration link).

Tentative Programme

15:00-15:05 Welcome remarks

Mr. Satoshi Hijikata, ARISE Board member; President, Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd.

15:05-15:35 Keynote - ‘Going local’ in DRR: learnings and practices of DRR based on community resources from Sendai City and a proposal for international standardization

Prof. Fumihiko Imamura, Director, Tohoku University International Research Institute of Disaster Science

15:35-15:40 QA and discussion

Break

15:45-16:45 Panel discussion - Community development and engagement towards ‘going local’ for DRR

Moderated by Ms Kiyomi Nakamura, Manager, Project Planning and Development, Japan Conservation Engineers & Co., Ltd. (ARISE)

DRR and fire prevention by historic Gassho-style village residents

Mr. Tatsuya Ozaki, Assistant Director of Tourism Promotion Division, Shirakawa Village Office

Living and managing tourism by the sea, risks and all, at Toi Hot Springs

Mr. Takato Noge, President, Toi Onsen Inn Union, Izu City

Preparedness of a central business district

Mr. Toshitaka Nakajima, Chairman, Committee for Disaster Response and Preparation, Council for Area Development and Management of Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Yurakucho 

With discussion by Prof. Fumihiko Imamura (keynote speaker)

16:45-16:50 Reflections and Comments by Ä¢¹½´«Ã½

Ms. Yuki Matsuoka, Head, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ office in Japan

16:50-17:00 Closing Remarks

Mr. Masato Takamatsu, ARISE Japan Lead; President, Tourism Resilience Japan; Visiting Fellow, JTB Tourism Research and Consulting Co.

Facilitated by: Ms. Yoshiko Abe, ARISE Japan Secretariat; Sustainability Strategist, International Development Department, Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd.