10:50 AM - 11:05 AM
[O04-01] Disaster Education with Hope: preparing for the best
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Disaster Misconceptions, Limitations of government, Hopeful disaster education
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “disaster preparedness”?
Many people respond with words like “scary,” “troublesome,” or “I don’t know what to do.” However, disaster preparedness and disasters are not the same thing. In fact, disaster preparedness is a way for us to take action proactively for the future. It is not just about fearing disasters—it is about finding hope in overcoming them.
For example, if a major earthquake were to hit Tokyo, the estimated number of casualties is around 6,000. Some might see this number and think, “There’s no way to survive.” But Tokyo has a population of approximately 14 million. This means that with the right actions, most people can protect themselves. On the other hand, let’s look at Setagaya Ward. It has a population of 920,000 but only 96 designated evacuation shelters. Despite this, many residents believe that simply going to a shelter is the best option in an earthquake. Why does this kind of “disaster preparedness mystery” happen?
Although a lot of research and information about disaster preparedness is available, it does not always lead to action. Why is that? At our school, we follow the motto: "Hope for the best, act for the future." Instead of relying only on expert theories, we base our disaster preparedness education on the everyday thoughts and reactions of students. What society sees as "normal" is shaped by education.
So, how should we build a culture of disaster preparedness for the future of Japan? Let’s rethink what we take for granted, explore new perspectives together, and turn disaster preparedness into a source of hope for the future.
Many people respond with words like “scary,” “troublesome,” or “I don’t know what to do.” However, disaster preparedness and disasters are not the same thing. In fact, disaster preparedness is a way for us to take action proactively for the future. It is not just about fearing disasters—it is about finding hope in overcoming them.
For example, if a major earthquake were to hit Tokyo, the estimated number of casualties is around 6,000. Some might see this number and think, “There’s no way to survive.” But Tokyo has a population of approximately 14 million. This means that with the right actions, most people can protect themselves. On the other hand, let’s look at Setagaya Ward. It has a population of 920,000 but only 96 designated evacuation shelters. Despite this, many residents believe that simply going to a shelter is the best option in an earthquake. Why does this kind of “disaster preparedness mystery” happen?
Although a lot of research and information about disaster preparedness is available, it does not always lead to action. Why is that? At our school, we follow the motto: "Hope for the best, act for the future." Instead of relying only on expert theories, we base our disaster preparedness education on the everyday thoughts and reactions of students. What society sees as "normal" is shaped by education.
So, how should we build a culture of disaster preparedness for the future of Japan? Let’s rethink what we take for granted, explore new perspectives together, and turn disaster preparedness into a source of hope for the future.