Building Tsunami-proof Communities - Showing How Tohoku Reconstruction Makes Use of Nature -

of the Tohoku Region was the 4th largest earthquake recorded in human history. It was a very complex disaster because of an accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1) Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO) which was triggered by a total loss of power after seven Tsunamis extending from 30 minutes to 6 hours after the earthquake occurred, thereby resulting in serious amounts of damage. The human damage and property damage resulting from the Tsunami disaster were both unfathomable, while the disaster also deprived the disaster victims/disaster-stricken areas of both their residences and places to work. Despite having the severe psychological trauma and had their lives inconvenienced by having to live at temporary housing the victims are still proceeding with restoration/reconstruction activities in thereby realizing a permanently safe society. When reconstructed they must be " disaster-resilient " in a multi-faceted sense. In addition, people cannot make a living unless industries that can sustain the disaster-stricken areas steadily take root, with job opportunities then being ensured by those industries. Furthermore, and with regard to the nuclear power plant accident, completion of its final disposition may require a time span of more than one generation. Many people have been forced to evacuate for an extended period of time, thus establishing a long-term health management system for those who fear having been exposed and decontamination measures in the areas where radioactive materials were deposited are posed as imminent issues. These various reconstruction challenges thus require the specific provision of desperately needed knowledge to the victims through mobilization in the various fields of science, which is precisely the duty of Science Council of Japan (SCJ). The 21st Term SCJ made the commitment soon after the occurrence of the great earthquake by setting up the Great East Japan Earthquake Task Force, issuing urgent recommendations on seven consecutive occasions, communities wherein the effects on residents and local communities, etc. can be reduced to the 66 fullest extent possible even with the occurrence of natural disasters of the same or a greater level as this one. In addition, the SubCommittee aimed to make the recommendations helpful to areas other than those stricken by this disaster in thus taking the necessary measures against disasters that are predicted to occur in the near future. 2 Present situation and issues More than a year has passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, with efforts …