Himeji City, in Hyogo prefecture, Japan, served as a fitting location for the forum. This choice holds special significance as it aligns with the commemoration of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995.
The Himeji Castle an iconic masterpiece, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, the technical sessions and plenaries will be held at the Arcrea Himeji Culture and Convention Center.
Here, history and tradition meet innovation.
Himeji-Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, one of the largest museums in western Japan, is home to over 10,000 works. The building itself was designed by Tadao Ando. Established as a place to preserve the works of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which suffered damage during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the museum now stands as a testament to the region's artistic heritage. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Himeji-Koko-En Garden
Koko-En Garden embodies the essence of an authentic Japanese garden, set against the stunning backdrop of Himeji Castle. Stretching to the southwest of Himeji Castle, this lovely garden spans an area of about 33,000 square meters. Comprising nine different garden areas, it exudes the ambiance of the Edo period and is often used as a filming location for popular TV series.
Himeji-Engyō-Ji Temple
Engyō-Ji Temple is a special head temple of the Tendai sect, situated 371 meters high on top of Mount Shosha in Himeji. The picturesque surroundings, with tranquil mountains nearby, have made this centuries-old site a popular location for movies, such as Last Samurai. The ropeway to this ancient temple offers beautiful views of Himeji. It is registered as a World Heritage site and recognized as a national important cultural property.
Himeji-The Nojima-Fault
The Nojima Fault is a fault that triggered the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and it is preserved at the Nojima Fault Preservation Museum located in the Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park. The park also exhibits an actual house and a wall that withstood the earthquake. The fault is designated as a natural monument.
Himeji-Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum
Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum is a disaster prevention learning facility designed to share the experiences and lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with future generations. The museum integrates video footage, soundscapes, and interactive exhibits, complemented by recreations of the earthquake using special effects and computer graphics; and visitors can experience the terrifying power of the earthquake, learn about local rebuilding efforts, and understand ways to minimize risks and damage.
Himeji-Arima-Onsen Springs
Arima Onsen Springs, known as one of the three ancient hot springs, is a hot spring town located in the north of Kobe. Cherished by famous writers and historical figures, the town exudes a nostalgic atmosphere with its traditional architecture. Visitors can explore a rich array of local restaurants, experiences, and souvenir shops. It is well worth a visit, even if just for the day.
Himeji-Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, one of the largest museums in western Japan, is home to over 10,000 works. The building itself was designed by Tadao Ando. Established as a place to preserve the works of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which suffered damage during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the museum now stands as a testament to the region's artistic heritage. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Himeji-Koko-En Garden
Koko-En Garden embodies the essence of an authentic Japanese garden, set against the stunning backdrop of Himeji Castle. Stretching to the southwest of Himeji Castle, this lovely garden spans an area of about 33,000 square meters. Comprising nine different garden areas, it exudes the ambiance of the Edo period and is often used as a filming location for popular TV series.
Himeji-Engyō-Ji Temple
Engyō-Ji Temple is a special head temple of the Tendai sect, situated 371 meters high on top of Mount Shosha in Himeji. The picturesque surroundings, with tranquil mountains nearby, have made this centuries-old site a popular location for movies, such as Last Samurai. The ropeway to this ancient temple offers beautiful views of Himeji. It is registered as a World Heritage site and recognized as a national important cultural property.
Himeji-The Nojima-Fault
The Nojima Fault is a fault that triggered the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and it is preserved at the Nojima Fault Preservation Museum located in the Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park. The park also exhibits an actual house and a wall that withstood the earthquake. The fault is designated as a natural monument.
Himeji-Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum
Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum is a disaster prevention learning facility designed to share the experiences and lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with future generations. The museum integrates video footage, soundscapes, and interactive exhibits, complemented by recreations of the earthquake using special effects and computer graphics; and visitors can experience the terrifying power of the earthquake, learn about local rebuilding efforts, and understand ways to minimize risks and damage.
Himeji-Arima-Onsen Springs
Arima Onsen Springs, known as one of the three ancient hot springs, is a hot spring town located in the north of Kobe. Cherished by famous writers and historical figures, the town exudes a nostalgic atmosphere with its traditional architecture. Visitors can explore a rich array of local restaurants, experiences, and souvenir shops. It is well worth a visit, even if just for the day.
Himeji-Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, one of the largest museums in western Japan, is home to over 10,000 works. The building itself was designed by Tadao Ando. Established as a place to preserve the works of the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, which suffered damage during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the museum now stands as a testament to the region's artistic heritage. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Himeji-Koko-En Garden
Koko-En Garden embodies the essence of an authentic Japanese garden, set against the stunning backdrop of Himeji Castle. Stretching to the southwest of Himeji Castle, this lovely garden spans an area of about 33,000 square meters. Comprising nine different garden areas, it exudes the ambiance of the Edo period and is often used as a filming location for popular TV series.
Himeji-Engyō-Ji Temple
Engyō-Ji Temple is a special head temple of the Tendai sect, situated 371 meters high on top of Mount Shosha in Himeji. The picturesque surroundings, with tranquil mountains nearby, have made this centuries-old site a popular location for movies, such as Last Samurai. The ropeway to this ancient temple offers beautiful views of Himeji. It is registered as a World Heritage site and recognized as a national important cultural property.
Himeji-The Nojima-Fault
The Nojima Fault is a fault that triggered the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and it is preserved at the Nojima Fault Preservation Museum located in the Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park. The park also exhibits an actual house and a wall that withstood the earthquake. The fault is designated as a natural monument.
Himeji-Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum
Hanshin Awaji Earthquake memorial museum is a disaster prevention learning facility designed to share the experiences and lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with future generations. The museum integrates video footage, soundscapes, and interactive exhibits, complemented by recreations of the earthquake using special effects and computer graphics; and visitors can experience the terrifying power of the earthquake, learn about local rebuilding efforts, and understand ways to minimize risks and damage.
Himeji-Arima-Onsen Springs
Arima Onsen Springs, known as one of the three ancient hot springs, is a hot spring town located in the north of Kobe. Cherished by famous writers and historical figures, the town exudes a nostalgic atmosphere with its traditional architecture. Visitors can explore a rich array of local restaurants, experiences, and souvenir shops. It is well worth a visit, even if just for the day.
Some Quotes from UR24
So in terms of the topography, it's a bit ironic, but we know much less about our ocean than other planets. Even the distribution of submarine volcanoes is still largely unknown. We don't really know where it is.
Recent cases revealed vulnerability of modern infrastructure to such submarine eruptions. We're trying to further understand the risk from the submarine volcanoes. And what we're doing is going deep
Dr. Kenichiro Tani
AI is actually pretty good at understanding deviations from statistical norms. Humans are good at understanding context, which is why they should be holding the keys.
Ivan Gayton
"I think it's fantastic that Nature Based Solutions is becoming more of a mainstream policy option amongst the (DRM) community. But I also know that to really make this even more structural, we need to sort of retrain the “invisible hand”
Rowan Douglas
The emergency operation center successfully evacuated nearly 5000 at-risk families. They provided shelter, food, water, and health care to evacuate, as well as moved an estimated 20 ,000 livestock to higher ground. No human or animals' lives were lost in the flood.
David Lallemant
And this is a calling, this is a motivation for all other marginalized areas that let them do whatever they are doing, they should not worry about publicity because ADA will be there for them."
Shee Kupi, Director Disaster Management and Peace building, Lamu County
Key Highlights Key Highlights
Shigeru Ban, a leading Japanese architect, takes the stage as a keynote speaker. Exhibition design cooperation
The opening ceremony also featured a keynote speech by Shigeru Ban, a world-renowned architect who has worked on disaster relief architecture internationally. In addition, the exhibition booth featured a Paper Partition System made of paper tubes, which is used by VAN (Voluntary Architects’ Network), the organization represented by Ban, to support victims in times of disaster. A special booth also displayed examples of its use in times of disaster.
Taiko drumming, calligraphy, and disaster prevention declaration by high school students
The opening ceremony connected the theme of “tradition” and the future. The opening ceremony also featured a calligraphy performance by Himeji Calligraphy Kids at the beginning, and disaster prevention declarations by high school students from four schools across the country, including Himeji, were handed to the World Bank Vice President. Finally, the opening ceremony was closed with a powerful taiko drumming performance by the Himeji Shirasagi Taiko, a group from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Public symposium held: Castle archaeologist Professor Yoshihiro Senda and other experts exchange opinions
On the first day of the forum, Sunday, June 16th, Mayor Hideyasu Kiyomoto of Himeji City, castle archaeologist Professor Yoshihiro Senda, and World Bank Principal Urban Development Specialist Ahmed Aywaida held a public symposium entitled “Cultural Heritage and Natural Disasters: Learning from Himeji’s Experience for a Sustainable Future,” where they discussed the current situation and issues regarding how to protect and restore cultural heritage, including Himeji Castle, from natural disasters and utilize them for sustainable development. Over 500 people attended.
The Averted Disaster Award announced the final results of its 2024 competition, during the UR24 Global Forum, celebrating achievements in disaster risk reduction. Hear Francis Ghesquiere, Olivia Natalie Jensen Blanc, and David Lallemant discuss the importance of recognizing the invisible successes in disaster risk management. The session also presented the addition of counterfactual analysis to this year’s award process to the 5 finalists. The overall winner was awarded to Lamu County, Kenya for there “Establishment of an Emergency Operation Center” To learn more about ADA please visit https://averteddisasteraward.org/
The Ignite presentation format is a 3-minute-long presentation with 20 slides. The slides advance automatically every 10 seconds, forcing speakers to get to the point, fast. It is such a fast format that it’s best thought of as a performance, rather than a lecture. Ignite presentations are a tradition at Understanding Risk (UR) Conferences. They are a way for Session Leads to ‘pitch’ their session on the opening night to ‘sell’ the audience on attending their session over the coming days.
Dr. Renato Solidum, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines, speaks with Lesley Cordero, Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist for the World Bank, about the critical role of Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Options (Cat-DDOs) in ensuring the country's financial resilience during disasters. He also highlights how the GFDRR-supported PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild application has enabled local governments to plan for disasters even before they happen.
UR-Interview-Ivan Gayton
Ivan Gayton, Senior Humanitarian Advisor for the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, talks with Pierre Chrzanowski, Disaster Risk Management Specialist at GFDRR, about working with GFDRR-supported teams in the Caribbean on empowering local communities to use small, inexpensive drones to create high-quality aerial imagery products that could be used for disaster risk reduction.
UR-Interviews-John Harding
John Harding, Head of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Secretariat, speaks with GFDRR’s Henriette Mampuya about how a scaled up partnership between CREWS and GFDRR could lay the groundwork for further innovation in the delivery of hydromet and early warning services.
UR-Interviews-Mary Boyer
In this conversation with Mary Boyer, Disaster Risk Management Specialist for GFDRR, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, US Fire Administrator, underscores the value of forums like the Understanding Risk 2024 conference in enhancing our grasp of shared risks. She highlights the recent GFDRR-supported World Fire Congress, which united global fire service leaders to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in fire risk management.
UR24-Interview-Pendo Maro
Pendo Maro, Team Leader with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), speaks with GFDRR’s Henriette Mampuya about how the partnership between GFDRR and OACPS has paved the way for transformative results in disaster and climate risk management in ACP countries.
UR24 hosted its biggest Expo Area ever with the participation of 45 national and international institutions and insights into Japanese culture with calligraphy lessons, tea tasting, and traditional costume experiences. The Expo Area was built with the innovative PPS cardboard system developed by award-winning Architect Shigeru Ban with VAN (Voluntary Architects’ Network). Its partition system was developed for emergency housing and kindly provided by Hyogo Prefecture; all of the structure is being re-purposed for emergency housing after the event.
UR24 is organized by the World Bank, GFDRR and the Tokyo DRM Hub.
Supported by
With Generous Contribution from
With many thanks to our hosts
Technical Partners
Japan pavilion
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
Ignites 
