Seminer of disaster prevention in Shinshu

The opportunities for hearing that an earthquake, flood, or other disaster has occurred have increased, and experiencing a natural disaster is certainly not just something that happens to others. To date, Japan’s disaster prevention systems have been constructed with a focus on public assistance, and it is necessary to supplement these systems with preparations for self-assistance and mutual assistance to prepare for disasters. The Japanese public has become more aware of disaster prevention following the Great East Japan Earthquake and other events in recent years. There is currently also an increased need for personnel in charge of regional disaster prevention. Through the lectures and practical sessions in this course, students will learn about the basic content and issues related to disaster prevention and reduction, from the mechanisms by which earthquakes, wind and water damage, and other disasters occur to ways in which individuals and society should respond. We intend to work on preparing for disasters, incorporating lectures by instructors who are collaborating with the university’s Center for Disaster Mitigation and Prevention. These lectures have been given the status of a recommended subject for qualifying as a “disaster prevention officer” (bōsaishi). (See the notes on course registration)

earthquake, wind damage, flooding, disaster, regional disaster prevention, disaster prevention education, disaster prevention, disaster reduction, disaster prevention officer, emergency response

Session 1: Orientation
Session 2: The volcanoes of Shinshū and disaster prevention
Session 3: Principles of fire phenomena and self-assistance and mutual assistance in residential fires
Session 4: Disasters due to earthquakes and tsunamis
Session 5: River disasters in Shinshū and countermeasures
Session 6: Prevention of earthquake disasters in buildings
Session 7: Current state of and issues in disaster prevention information
Session 8: Making use of hazard maps and training using disaster maps
Session 9: Recovery and reconstruction after disasters and daily life
Session 10: Medical treatment and mental care in times of disaster
Session 11: Mental care in times of disaster
Session 12: Disaster victim support by diverse agents and collaboration between them
Session 13: Disaster prevention education in schools
Session 14: Government countermeasures against disasters and risk management; Disaster activities and awareness using knowledge (1)
Session 15: Corporate disaster prevention initiatives, their current state and issues; Disaster activities and awareness using knowledge (2)
Session 16: Passing down an oral history of disasters within the region

○ A separate task report will be set in the final session for students wishing to qualify as disaster prevention officers.
○ The dates, content, and order of the sessions may change depending on the progress of the class and the external lecturers’ circumstances.
○ Sessions 8 and 9 may be held on the same day in periods 4 and 5.

Syllabus (Japanese site only)