THE KUMAMOTO EARTHQUAKE’S CREATIVE RECONSTRUCTION EFFORT LED BY A DIVERSE RANGE OF ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

This study analyzed the creative reconstruction efforts led by a diverse range of organizations from the Kumamoto earthquake in the Aso region in chronological order. In addition, this study was aimed to clarify the efforts of the residents and communities of the Aso region ranging from disaster relief to tourism and various forms of exchange. This study conducted an interview survey, subsequently analyzed the recovery efforts of the grassland conservation volunteers, the exchange center, and the collaboration between local residents and earthquake volunteers in a chronological order using the following time frames: the time to secure survival (10 days after the disaster), the time to secure living conditions (one month after the disaster), the time to secure livelihood (three months from the time of the disaster), and the time to prepare forecasts for the resumption of business activities. These efforts utilized the unique human networks and organizations during the period for ensuring survival (10 days after the earthquake) and the period for securing living conditions (1 month after the earthquake) and also provided quick support where the government could not reach. Furthermore, this study clarified how the unique efforts undertaken by each subject have made it easier to continue the relief effort and how they developed into tourism, exchange and disaster prevention education programs reviewing local communities.