Yasuhiro Suzuki

and 10 more

After the recent large earthquake disasters, Japan now emphasizes the role of universities in disaster prevention. Universities with expert knowledge of disasters and prevention are possibly able to play the role of linking the administration and citizens and supporting the collaboration of the many related agencies. Based on this recognition, since 2016, Nagoya University has actively built a framework for collaborating with the National University of Mongolia (MUIS) and the National Emergency Agency of Mongolia (NEMA). Nagoya University and the Open University of Japan intend to share Japan’s experience on “how to raise citizen’s disaster resilience” from the perspective of these universities. After the 1995 Kobe Earthquake, Japan has implemented many earthquake disaster prevention initiatives; however, in 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake again caused substantial destructive damage. Although adequate measures had been taken, there is still a limit to governmental measures to deal with huge earthquakes with low occurring frequency. In countries where large earthquakes are possible, it is essential for each citizen to strengthen their own buildings or to endeavor to live in a place with good ground conditions and to ensure that this becomes the normal way of life. However, interest in disaster prevention often dissipates, and we are liable to repeat the same mistakes. How can we enhance citizens’ disaster resilience? As emphasized in the Sendai framework, one of the most important factors is “cooperation” and universities could become the focal point of this cooperation. Since 2002, Nagoya University, together with the administration and citizens, has begun to conduct various disaster prevention education projects in Japan. We introduce here the three projects based on Geography, Cultural Anthropology and Environmental Sciences, which were conducted within the period between 2014 and 2018. 1) Establishment of a Cooperative Center for Resilience Research (CCRR) between the National University of Mongolia and Nagoya University. 2) Organizing a public symposium for earthquake prevention by the Mongolian Government and CCRR. 3) Initiating the Grass-roots Joint Project: “Disaster Awareness Enlightenment Project for Large-scale Natural Disasters Caused by Global Environmental Change in Khovd Province, Mongolia” supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Through these projects, we want to determine disaster prevention methods suitable for Mongolia rather than just utilize Japanese methods of disaster prevention.