2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The integration of negative heritage in rehabilitation strategies in Fukushima Prefecture: Bosai Tourism and Social Services Improvements in depopulated regions in Futaba, Namie, Minamisoma and Soma.
Project/Area Number |
19K23126
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Research Institution | Tohoku University |
Principal Investigator |
Gerster Julia 東北大学, 災害科学国際研究所, 助教 (90842716)
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Project Period (FY) |
2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
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Keywords | Negative Heritage / Bosai Tourism / Dark Tourism / Disaster Recovery / Resilience / Identity / Cultural Memory / 3.11 |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This research investigates how lessons from the 3.11 disasters are implemented in disaster risk education through negative heritage preservation, tourism, and memorialization practices in Japan. First research results show that preserving negative examples of evacuation can lead to improvements in disaster mitigation measures. However, also frictions regarding negative heritage and its promotion in tourism and education in local communities were uncovered. The ongoing pandemic made clear that recovery strategies should not rely too much on tourism as it led to financial difficulties of the communities that introduced facilities mainly focusing on visitors. Disaster museums on the other hand were able to attract domestic visitors through the promotion of disaster risk education.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, international tourism came to a halt in Japan. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics further led to the cancellation of many promotional activities of the Tohoku region. The rapid change of the state of emergency in different regions in Japan further led to a decline in domestic tourism in the Tohoku region. The research focus this year has changed accordingly to negative heritage preservation in the Tohoku region. Field research and interviews with stakeholders on the topic led to valuable results that were shared at international conferences and in research papers.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Based on the current research results, interviews with stakeholders in negative heritage preservation will be increased. After travel restrictions are eased, research on post-disaster narrative construction through Bosai and Hope tourism will continue. Adaptation methods in terms of online tours will further be investigated. In addition to interviews, online surveys with local communities and tourists will be conducted. Discussions on the project with stakeholders and experts will continue in meetings and at international conferences. Results will be submitted in research papers to international journals.
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Causes of Carryover |
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic international travel is still not possible for foreigners and therefore the international research part could not be carried out. Further, states of emergencies were introduced in Japan and in Miyagi in particular several times. During these times even domestic travel was restricted and research in Fukushima could not be carried out. Conferences and meetings were held online which led to a sharp decrease in travel expenses remunaration. Hopefully, in this fiscal year travel bans will be eased again and research activities can be expended.
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Research Products
(8 results)