Keynote Plenary: 30 Years on – Lessons Learnt from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake
With the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake approaching in January 2025, Governor Motohiko Saito of Hyogo Prefecture delivered a keynote discussing the lessons learnt, and initiatives focusing on the importance of disaster preparedness, creative reconstruction, and international collaboration. The lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake became the foundation for current disaster risk management practices in Japan. Key lessons include the importance of initial disaster response, community resilience, and the establishment of a mutual aid system for housing reconstruction. The prefecture established a 24-hour monitoring system to ensure prompt responses to emergencies. In the aftermath of the earthquake, over 35 million yen were allocated for scholarships, and additional funds were collected through hometown tax donations. These funds have been utilized to support private organizations and community initiatives. The concept of “build back better” is central to disaster recovery. Creative reconstruction is a key concept developed by Hyogo Prefecture after the 1995 earthquake, where local communities are involved in the recovery process. The aim is to ensure that the needs and preferences of the communities are met by engaging residents in decision-making and planning. This participatory approach fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents, which is crucial for long-term resilience. Over the past 30 years the prefecture has also engaged in international cooperation in Turkey and Ukraine to apply creative reconstruction principles. The initiatives have provided support in areas such as prosthetics, rehabilitation, and mental health care, leveraging Hyogo prefectures’ experience and expertise in these areas. As part of the commemorative projects of the 1995 earthquake, during the Kansai Osaka Expo 2025, Hyogo Prefecture will host Hyogo field pavilions providing hands-on experience of the region’s cultural heritage while promoting awareness of disaster preparedness and resilience. By capitalizing on the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and fostering collaboration among local and international partners, Hyogo Prefecture aims to strengthen its disaster countermeasures and contribute to a more resilient future for all.
“I hope that the creative construction initiatives that our (Hyogo) prefecture has been implementing for the past 30 years since the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake will be of help in strengthening disaster countermeasures in other countries, as well as in the discussions at this forum.”
