“Build Back Better”: Between Public Policy and Local Implementation, the Challenges in Tohoku’s Reconstruction

Camille Cosson

doi:10.2478/aup-2020-0001

Abstract

Abstract Although Japan, because of its long history of natural disasters, has always been one of the most prepared country, the 2011 Great East Japanese Earthquake and tsunami caused unprecedented damages to the country. This paper introduces public policies for urban resilience from international level to national level, analysing Tohoku’s reconstruction. First, we will introduce the United Nations frameworks and guidelines for “Build Back Better” before confronting this theory with its practical application. Concluding remarks suggest that Japanese reconstruction policies provoked some challenges in the local implementation of urban resilience.

Highlights

On 11 March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook Japan
This paper introduces public policies for urban resilience from international level to national level, analysing Tohoku’s reconstruction
Concluding remarks suggest that Japanese reconstruction policies provoked some challenges in the local implementation of urban resilience

Summary

Introduction

On 11 March 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake shook Japan. A series of tsunami waves devastated Japan's northeast coast of Tohoku flooding more than 500 square kilometres, mainly in Miyagi, Iwate, and Fukushima prefectures. The leak in the Fukushima Daiichi power plant reactors that followed forced the evacuation of the near population outside of the radiation-affected area [1]. This disaster caused severe human casualties with 16,000 victims and 3,000 missing people. Referred to as the “Great East Japan Earthquake” (GEJE) [3] it is a decisive turning point for the entire Japanese society as well as for architecture and urban planning. The adjective resilient has been overused since the beginning of 2000, but what does it mean for the city? This paper introduces public policies for urban resilience from international level to national level, considered in Tohoku reconstruction plan. We will present the United Nations guide to “Build Back Better”, before going to national policies implemented by the Japanese government in the aftermath of the disaster and the challenges for the local implementations

The United Nations Policies for R esiliency

Framework for Action and Risk Reduction

Japan’s National Policy for R econstruction

Development of a National Policy for Areas Resilient to Tsunami Disasters

Findings

Conclusions