2022 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

Building a New Paradigm of Disaster Management for Foreign Residents: a Cross-National Study of Japan, the United States, Australia and Canada

Research Project

Project/Area Number	17K12611
Research Institution	Nagoya University
Principal Investigator	WHITNEY JUSTIN 名古屋大学, 法学研究科, 学術研究員 (40402391)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	リンリーマシュー名古屋大学, 国際機構, 特任教授 (90574997) Green David 名城大学, 法学部, 准教授 (90706813)
Project Period (FY)	2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Keywords	Lingering Events / Multicultural / Migration / Emergency preparedness / Diverse communities / 多文化共生 / 防災 / Hazard awareness
Outline of Annual Research Achievements	The research team has successfully published in a range of journals and a book chapter the challenges faced by local governments in Japan regarding disaster preparation for foreign residents. Valuable recommendations were developed and distributed to the Aichi prefecture government. Comparative studies identified effective strategies to increase foreign resident participation in disaster preparedness, and key factors and challenges were pinpointed. A database of successful initiatives was constructed, enriching the findings from surveys and interviews with local government officials. Leveraging experiences from other nations, practical recommendations were devised specifically for Japan. Dissemination occurred through journal articles, a book chapter and public talks. This project fills a critical research gap by focusing on socially disadvantaged groups, particularly foreign residents who are not native speakers. The findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for national and sub-national governments and practitioners involved in disaster management. Overall, this project highlighted a pathway for improving Japan's support for foreign residents during disasters, enhancing their safety and well-being and ensuring active participation in preparedness activities.