Abstract ID: 3.11220 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Tadami is a municipality comprising 27 settlements situated in a mountainous valley in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture. This study explores the cultural expressions of social cohesion identified in Tadami, and their contribution to community resilience to natural hazards, and in response to climate change and rural outmigration-related challenges. It focuses on the tonari gumi system, a neighborhood-based mutual assistance network, and its role towards disaster risk reduction. The research highlights the importance of acknowledging local resources to social capital as a key element in enhancing community resilience. The research was conducted adopting anthropological methods including participant observation, in-depth interviews and a participatory workshop that allowed to map the key disaster risk reduction measures employed at different levels of governance: national, prefectural, municipal, village, and individual.

Key findings based on the analysis of interrelations of these levels of measures implementation revealed that Tadami’s disaster management system relies on three interdependent approaches: self-help (jijyo), mutual help (kyoujo), and governmental aid (koujo). These interdependencies are aligned with Japan’s disaster management system. The tonari gumi system is representative of mutual help actions, where neighbors regularly meet to support one another throughout all phases of disaster risk management. Due to the harsh living conditions due to the topography and climate of Tadami, local communities place great value on this system, considered crucial for maintaining social cohesion and ensuring effective disaster preparedness and response, as it was seen during the July 2011 flood disaster that hit the area.

The study has however also revealed existing challenges posed by rural outmigration and aging population, threatening the continuity of the tonari gumi system. These changes impact social cohesion-based disaster preparedness, increasing vulnerabilities to natural hazards and climate change. The research underscores the need for a balanced disaster risk management system that integrates self-help, mutual help, and governmental aid. Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how social cohesion and cultural heritage influence disaster risk reduction strategies, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners involved in community resilience and disaster management.