Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

(1) Project on Medicine and Health Care - Project Leader: Professor Shigetaka Asano

Research on the needs for scientific/social support and administration toward the prevention of health damage caused by earthquakes.

Project Leader: Professor Shigetaka Asano (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

①Formation of communities and establishment of appropriate risk communication during times of disaster

This research seeks to establish appropriate risk communication such as that which was required at the time of the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. In order to establish such communication, a summary will be made of knowledge gained from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and surveying and research will be performed for data and information that is related to health risk and was circulated throughout areas affected by the recent earthquake. Another serious problem is that survivors who escaped disaster by taking refuge are suffering from chronic stress (emotional paralysis, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, excessive cautionary response) and associated complications (emotional paralysis, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, excessive cautionary response) as a result of emotional stress due to living conditions at shelters. Through surveys and research, we seek to clarify long-term clinical conditions in higher-level brain functions caused by traumatic memories, as well as to form desirable communities which consider individuality for within long-term shelters after disasters.

②Establishment of a medical system and promotion of international cooperation during times of disaster

An issue of large-scale disasters is that medical institutions are damaged, thus crippling the functions which support medicine. In order to solve this problem, we shall conduct surveys and research related to state-of-the-art international health and medical support ships. More specifically, we shall focus on drive force for propulsion of echo class ships, ship structure, and specific form of medical devices. Plans for such ships shall be proposed as a national project. Current disaster enhanced the momentum to promote the construction of the ships. Furthermore, we shall use knowledge gained from conditions during the recent earthquake to enhance an international cooperative system focused on Asia. Moreover, we shall cultivate international medical staff that can be entrusted with the demands of safety and peace of mind for international society.

③Development of useful devices for times of disaster

Disasters cause the scattering of hazardous chemical substances which are used extensively in modern daily goods and are easily spilled and spread in times of disaster. Hazardous chemical substances are also released due to the collapsing of factories and research centers, as well as fires at such facilities. Furthermore, accidents at nuclear power plants result in the leakage and scattering of radioactive material. This project will develop high-sensitivity detection devices and onsite chips which are capable of self-diagnosis, as well as effective absorbents and neutralizers for substances such as those listed above. Moreover, the population density and decreased hygiene which are typical of emergency shelters result in the spreading of infectious illnesses (common colds, influenza, respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea and vomiting due to infection by the norovirus and rotavirus, etc.). This project will develop onsite chips which enable early detection and prevention of such illnesses, even in the case of insufficient electricity and radio disturbance which occur in times of disaster.

④Development of methods for clarification and treatment of mechanisms affecting health due to the possible spread of various hazardous chemical substances during times of disaster

In regards to action mechanisms and health hazards, we will conduct a survey on the probabilistic effect caused by radiation with extremely low levels of threshold doses (i.e., the increased possibility of effects as the total exposure dosage increases), an area for which few reports currently exist. Furthermore, we will develop methods for preventing and treated associated illnesses. In particular, we will establish a new treatment strategy involving concurrent usage of G-CSF as an antioxidant. The project will also include a toxicology survey for hazardous chemical substances which are easily spilled and spread in times of disasters. Moreover, in an effort to develop medicine to treat exposure to such substances, we shall clarify the action mechanism at the level of stem cells (ES cells; in particular, use of primitive mesenchymal stem cells) and individual organisms.

(2) Project on Infrastructure Restoration and Disaster Management Systems - Project Leader: Professor Tomoya Shibayama

Disaster analysis and proposal for rehabilitation process for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami

Project Leader: Professor Tomoya Shibayama (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

As a nation-wide theme, this research proposes the revamping of disaster prevention plans for all of Japan and proposes methods for inclusion in such plans. We will revise the scale used to measure envisioned tsunamis when formulating disaster prevention measures. Additionally, this research shall not be constrained by supposed values and will create an emergency evacuation plan for cases in which a tsunami exceeding such values occurs. We will clarify the mechanism of damage caused by the recent tsunami and will conduct proposals for future disaster prevention systems. When making such proposals, we shall verify the effectiveness of existing bulwarks at the mouth of bays, tsunami barriers and emergency shelter buildings. We shall then reach a conclusion regarding the level of capability which must be set for such facilities. The research will also propose anti-tsunami measures for regions which are expected to experience a tsunami in the future. We shall examine methods for strengthening disaster prevention functions such as movement to highlands and the construction of emergency buildings. The research shall propose an aid system to support the creation of new towns and fishing villages.

Environmental diagnosis and proposal of countermeasure technology for restoration and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Project Member: Professor Kazuo Kamura (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

①Scattering of dust which contains hazardous substances when removing rubble and sediment, including sludge carried by the tsunami.
②Scattering of asbestos which occurs when dismantling ships which were stranded inland by the tsunami.
③Widespread dispersal of radioactive materials released into the atmosphere by the accident at the nuclear reactor.
④Soil pollution by radioactive substances and accompanying pollution of agricultural crops.
⑤Discharge of large amounts of water containing highly radioactive substances with a high salt concentration.
⑥Sinking and liquefaction of land caused by the earthquake.
⑦Saline groundwater caused by the tsunami.
⑧Recycling of waste materials from the disaster.

In order to solve the difficult themes listed above, researchers from fields such as atmospheric environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, water treatment engineering, resource circulation engineering, applied mineralogy, waste material engineering, geophysical prospecting, geotechnical engineering, petroleum engineering and materials process engineering have formed an organic partnership in order to conduct comprehensive field surveys and to review a wide array of technology which may offer solutions. This research will offer proposals for recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Research related to causes, effects, measures and restoration for complex mega disasters

Project Member: Professor Shunji Matsuoka (Faculty of International Liberal Studies)

This research will focus mainly on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident which was caused by the recent earthquake. From the perspectives of social sciences and technology engineering, multidisciplinary and comprehensive research will be conducted for 4 processes contained in such an enormous nuclear disaster, namely, "causes", "effects", "measures" and "reconstruction." The research will offer policy proposals which are essential to the future reconstruction of Japanese society.

Specifically, the 4 process of "causes", "effects", "measures" and "reconstruction" as pertaining to nuclear power disasters will be divided into the following 4 research clusters: 1) political, governmental and management systems, 2) nuclear energy and technical systems, 3) sustainable energy and technical systems, and 4) regional reconstruction systems. A "4*4" matrix research structure will be formed in order to approach research themes.

This "4*4" matrix research structure will enable comprehensive risk governance research which possesses concurrency and interconnectedness. Furthermore, in terms of reconstruction research, we shall expand the conventional field of EPI (Environmental Policy Integration) research and shall review the measures and methods for conducting policy integration which seeks to form sustainable communities. Such policy integration contains various reconstruction policies such as disaster prevention plans, (risk management), land usage plans, energy policy, welfare policies, environmental policies and policies for industry, farming and fishing. The research shall clarify the form of governance which enables effective implementation of policy integration.

(3) Project on Urban Planning and Social Design - Project Leader: Professor Takeshi Nakagawa

General study on housing and urban planning for reconstruction incorporating harmony with and respect for nature, as learned from cultural heritage

Project Leader: Professor Takeshi Nakagawa (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

The area affected by the recent tsunami does not contain such a great amount of important cultural architecture from ancient times. Furthermore, there are many cases in which severe damage was avoided by fishing and farming villages which skillfully followed an ancient tradition of living in highlands while using watch posts and boathouses located along the ocean. Within a long historical experience in which tsunamis have occurred numerous times, we must pay careful attention to the wisdom of people living together with nature. The consciousness towards safety in such people is shown by the location of important cultural architecture, as well as in their enjoyment of non-tangible cultural properties such as festivals. This important cultural architecture embodies the idea of achieving harmony with nature in order to live safely and creatively. The goal of our research is to link such harmony with the scientific, technical and economic systems which have been accumulated for the purpose of modern urban development.

Waseda University Legal Aid Project for Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief

Project Member: Professor Michitaro Urakawa (Faculty of Law)

In this research project legal researchers and practitioners of our university shall cooperate in order to conduct surveys and research regarding difficult legal issues which will occur during the process of reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. The project seeks to provide necessary information to legal practitioners who offer legal services to victims in disaster areas, and we will propose policies for the solution of legal problems encountered by such practitioners. Another goal of the project is to make specific proposals to national agencies and government agencies, including legislative proposals. This research will enable flexible response and the submission of appropriate measures for various legal issues occurring during the reconstruction process for the farming and fishing villages which suffered great damage due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. Furthermore, the research will enable the proposal of policies for solving unprecedented legal issues arising from the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini power plants, an event that the country of Japan has never experienced.

Rebuilding a new global social system resilient to large-scale disasters

Project Member: Professor Osamu Soda (Faculty of Social Sciences)

The effect on globalization is a point of difference between the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. For example, overseas factories were forced to stop production due to stagnation of domestic procurement for components used in the automotive industry. Overseas consumers are also adverse to purchasing Japanese seafood and marine products. In the midst of such conditions, it is not enough to simply restore areas affected by the disaster. Instead, it is necessary to review the restructuring of the manufacturing industry in both Tohoku and Japan, as well as to examine the construction of new production clusters, the enhancement of transportation and distribution networks, and the repositioning of urban functions. Moreover, in order for government officials, scholars and private specialists to conduct two-way debate and take flexible action, it is necessary to construct a new social system, to ensure communication of plan information, and to establish a flexible legal system. This research seeks to design a system in which reconstruction is the design of a global social system which possesses a restoration mechanism, as well as to prepare for future disasters in not only the Tohoku region, but also in Tokyo and other risk areas.