Disaster management in Japan needs a more gender-inclusive approach. Here's why

In January 2024, Japan was struck by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake on the Noto Peninsula, ushering in the new year with a stark reminder of nature’s might. As of 30 July, the earthquake has resulted in 299 fatalities, 1,327 injuries and damage to 123,099 homes.

Disaster prevention and post-disaster preparedness present many challenges. One critical area for improvement is ensuring adequate consideration for women and vulnerable groups in evacuation centres. Repeated concerns have emerged after every major disaster since the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.

Women specifically face numerous challenges during disasters, from the initial impact and evacuation to the recovery phase. Studies show that women often evacuate while caring for infants and the elderly, leading to higher disaster-related fatalities than men.

In addition, evacuation centres lack privacy in changing rooms and nursing areas, while essential items for women, including sanitary items and underwear, are often in short supply. Women are often pressured into performing tasks, including cooking and cleaning, at the evacuation centres and heightened risks of sexual harassment pose further difficulties and potential for physical harm.

One expert who has been studying disaster sites for over 20 years has noted that “Even when temporary toilets are provided, many women reduce their water intake because the facilities are not separated by gender and/or are unhygienic. This increases the risk of blood clots, potentially leading to conditions including venous thrombosis.”

One key reason for the lack of consideration for women in the operation of evacuation shelters is that very few women are involved in their management or hold central roles in disaster response within local governments.

The Japanese government has aimed to increase the proportion of women on national disaster reduction committees to 30% by 2025 but as of 2023, only 10.8% of these committee members are women. A survey by Japan’s Cabinet Office reveals that nearly 60% of all municipalities have no female staff in their disaster management departments.

In response to this disparity, the Japanese government adopted the Priority Policy for Women’s Activities and Gender Equality 2024. This policy aims to promote the assignment of female staff to disaster prevention and crisis management departments in national and local governments.

Local governments are also encouraged to appoint women to key disaster management roles. For example, Koto Ward in Tokyo and Yoshinogawa City in Wakayama Prefecture have established disaster prevention teams composed of female staff. These teams focus on identifying and advocating for services that should be included in disaster prevention efforts from a woman’s perspective and integrating them into policies.

In the town of Itano in Wakayama Prefecture, a women’s fire brigade has been formed, whose responsibilities include checking the town’s stockpile of sanitary products and other necessary supplies for women, as well as managing evacuation centres designed to provide a safe environment for women and children.

Local government employees are being trained and citizens are receiving disaster preparedness education. In Osaka City, the Osaka Gender Iki-Iki Foundation has conducted 10 training sessions. These courses include practical training, including meeting female disaster response leaders from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake – also known as 3.11 – learning about their experiences and having participants design and present community disaster preparedness plans.

In Nagoya City, nonprofit organization Child & Woman Net TOKAI held a training course for female disaster preparedness leaders, with 63 participants completing the programme. Many graduates are now actively involved in local neighbourhood associations and disaster preparedness meetings.

Kimiko Fujioka, the organization’s executive director, noted, “Connecting with fellow participants and encouraging one another during the course is a powerful step forward.”

These initiatives are funded by The Sanaburi Foundation, a community foundation established in response to recovery efforts from 3.11. With the support of such groups, the network of individuals responsible for disaster planning and evacuation centre management is steadily growing.

Efforts to develop more inclusive disaster supplies are also underway in the private sector. Mikiko Suzuki, president of office supplies company Okamoto Ya, launched a new business initiative called Fellne to promote gender inclusivity. As part of the project, the company developed a one-way all-gender toilet with separate entrances and exits to eliminate the discomfort of passing the next person to use the evacuation centre toilets.

They also created a disaster ladies’ kit that includes hygiene products specifically for women. Suzuki stated, “I hope to play a leading role in transforming society so that men and women can work together without barriers.”

In Japan, 1 September is Disaster Prevention Day, chosen to remember the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, which devastated Tokyo and its surrounding area. Each year, on this day, disaster drills occur at schools and companies and within local communities across the country.

These drills help people practice responding to a disaster. The effectiveness of these drills was evident during 3.11 when the quick evacuation of local elementary and junior high school students saved their lives.

Similarly, efforts to create more inclusive disaster prevention planning and evacuation centre management through close cooperation between the public and private sectors are feasible and critical. Regular updates and information sharing focusing on inclusiveness are essential in this process.

The World Economic Forum has facilitated the establishment of the Logistics Emergency Teams. They comprise four global logistics and transportation giants: Agility, UPS, Maersk, and DP World. They work to support the United Nations Logistics Cluster. Their key purpose is to “provide demand-driven, efficient response.”

Tailoring responses to on-the-ground conditions also enhances the efficiency crucial for successful disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

By fostering gender-inclusive disaster preparedness, Japan can better protect all its citizens, ensuring that no one is left vulnerable in times of crisis. Collaboration between government, local communities and private sector initiatives is a promising step towards a more resilient and inclusive society.

As disasters continue challenging us, integrating diverse perspectives in planning and response will be key to safeguarding Japan’s future.