Purposes and directions

Hiroaki Maruya

The study in the “area of disaster prevention as a social system” at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, intends to discuss a visionary idea of local industry and economy such as new concepts of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in the whole Tohoku area while transmitting recommended policies and information that originate from the damaged area, based upon researches of disaster response capability improvement and support strategies for a wide support at times of hazard, for achieving a long-term recovery of Tohoku industry and reinforcement of disaster response capability.

Following the above, a team under Professor Maruya determines to recommend policies for disaster prevention, and continues to research on the topic of business continuity of private companies and public organizations as one of the research focuses.

Profile

Outline of the website

“Disaster prevention policy: website of business continuity studies” consists of the following contents:

Business Continuity Management (BCM) and Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

It provides a wide range of commentary and supposedly useful information about BCM and BCP. BCM is defined as management activities on a regular basis to plan, maintain and update a BCP, to secure budgets/resources for business continuity, implement proactive programs, conduct educational sessions or trainings to bring awareness to the initiative, inspect and improve programs, and carry out other related work. For further information, please click the button on the right.

Disaster prevention initiated by companies/organizations

Companies and organizations are required to implement disaster prevention, not only with the objective of continuing business, but from the perspective on proper protection of employees and their health, prevention of damage to their property, and contribution to the local society and social responsibilities. Because those partially overlap with business continuity plans, disaster prevention and business continuity must be put into operation inseparably like a pair of wheels.

Collaboration system of industry, government, academia and private sector at a time of disaster in Tohoku

Tohoku has suffered an enormous damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake. It’s considered appropriate for the region as a social system to devote to disaster prevention and disaster response. In order to establish a specific content of disaster prevention and disaster response as a social system, team Maruya, in anticipating catastrophe such as Nankai Trough earthquake, is researching the structure of support system in which each prefecture in Tohoku would be involved and collaborate, and how to strengthen the interchangeable functions between the Pacific side and the Sea of Japan side to make Tohoku resistant to disasters.

Other studies on disaster prevention

It covers an issue of those who face difficulties in returning home in an emergency in big cities such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, and volunteer activities at a time of disaster.