On 30 January, The Japan Times published an article discussing Japan’s unique “disaster-reduction culture” built on the country's experience of past disasters such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. It features expert comments by UNU-IAS researcher Mahesti Okitasari.
Excerpt:
“I think Japan has really caught on to the importance of learning and recording what’s happening and how they can then respond to that in terms of urban planning,” [Mahesti Okitasari] says, pointing to Japan’s long history of disaster-related record-keeping and the large-scale government funded infrastructure projects — including seawalls and levees — built to protect against natural hazards.
The full article is available on the Japan Times website.