Disaster Volunteers in Japan: A Historical Review and the Current Movement since the 1995 Kobe Earthquake

Abstract

This study presents a historical review of disaster volunteers in Japan as well as an examination of the implications and problems of their networking since the Great Hanshin earthquake 1995. First, we classify the history of disaster relief by the private sector in Japan into three periods: before, immediately after, and several years after the Kobe earthquake. After the earthquake, “volunteers for disaster prevention” were called “volunteers active in disaster”and many local and national networks of NPOs for disaster relief were established. Second, we investigate the current situation of disaster NPO networks. We find that these organizations have maintained usual activities in local areas and joined national networks for effective relief. Finally, we examine the networks' problems and prospects for future disaster relief.