Symposium
Building Safer & Resilient Society against Mega Disaster- Report from Japan on 3.11 PROGRAMME

Opening 9:00 - 9:40
Opening Address: Dr Hideki Fukuda, President of Kobe University
Speech: HE Mr Kojiro Shiojiri, Ambassador of Japan to the European Union
Speech: Mrs Manuela Soares, Director of the Environment Directorate, Directorate-General for Research andInnovation, European Commission
Speech: Ms Paola Albrito, Head of Europe Oﬃce, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Speech: Prof Paul De Knop, President of Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Part I: Report on the GEJET 10:00 - 12:00“Summary on the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami”
Prof Shoichi Yoshioka, Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University“The Behavior of 3.11 Tsunamis in the Sendai Plain and the Damage to the Disaster Prevention System”
Prof Akira Mano, Disaster Control Research Center, Tohoku University“Present Status of Japanese Nuclear Power Plants and Radiation Disaster”
Prof Keiji Oda, Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University“Damage situations of ground, infrastructures and others”
Prof Yasuo Tanaka, Research Center for Urban Safety and Security, Kobe University

Part II: Impact of the GEJET 13:00 - 15:00“Waste management toward restoration”
Prof Masanobu Ishikawa, Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University“A Process of Improvement of Law and Institution in Disaster Management: Lessons from East Japan”
Prof Yuka Kaneko, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University“Collaboration for generating Hope”
Prof Masayoshi Morioka, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University“Community recovery of Tohoku disaster hit area and recovery supports from outside”
Prof Yoshiteru Murosaki, Kwansei Gakuin University, Prof Emeritus of Kobe University

Part III: Panel Discussion 15:30 - 17:40
Chair:
Prof Hiroshi Takeda, Kobe University
Panelists:
Speakers from part I & II and;Dr Denis Peter, European Commission
Prof Hormoz Modaressi, BRGM
Prof Jochen Zschau, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Prof David Alexander, Global Risk Forum GRF Davos2

university. Today, Prof Mano of Tohoku University is here with
Opening Address by Dr Hideki Fukuda
President of Kobe University

us to share their experiences and the current challenges they
face in the devastated areas. In order to help the recovery andreconstruction from GEJET, Kobe University has published alist of recommendations for strategic reconstruction plans

Dear honorable guests, ladies

partly based on lessons from the Kobe Earthquake.

and gentlemen,

Additionally, Kobe University is going to sign a MoU withAs the President of Kobe

Tohoku University to support reconstruction of the region with

University, it is my greata vision of creating a league of academic alliances in order topleasure and honour to welcome

implement scientiﬁc and cultural knowledge to rebuild andyou to this symposium. Today,even improve our society.

we have many distinguishedguests in attendance, and I

An academic alliance between two regions such as Tohoku

would like to express my sincere

and Kobe in Japan does not allow us to fully apply thegratitude to several particularcomprehensive lessons learned from this disaster and build ahonourable individuals; His

safer and more secure global society. Sharing the knowledge

Excellency Ambassador Kojiro Shiojiri, Mission of Japan to theof lessons learned from this disaster with global partners is

EU, Ms Manuela Soares, Director of Environment Directorate

extremely important to implement such academic endeavors.

of the European Commission, Ms Paola Albrito, Head of

It is our hope that during this Symposium, all participants will

Europe Oﬃce of the ISDR of the United Nations and President

take this opportunity to thoroughly discuss what we can learn

Paul De Knop, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

from this disaster.

Representatives from such organizations make thisI thank you all again for participating in today s Symposium

symposium a truly international event, and I am very gratefuland hope this is the beginning of increased collaborationfor everyone s participation. This is the second Kobe

between the people of Europe and Japan. Thank you very

University Brussels European Centre Symposium, and it

much.

follows the ﬁrst meeting that took place here in Brussels last
March.

Today, we are here to discuss a devastating disaster, theGreat East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, GEJET for short,that struck Japan on March 11th, just a few days after ourﬁrst symposium. As many of you may remember, in the very
early morning of January 17th 1995, Kobe City, which is thehometown of our university, was shaken violently by a verystrong earthquake. This earthquake, known as the Kobe
Earthquake resulted in the loss of over 6,400 lives andeconomic costs of more than 10 trillion yen (900 millioneuro). We thought, at that time, that it was the greatest
natural disaster that Japan had ever faced. However, in theafternoon of March 11th, an even greater catastrophe hit thecountry.

Residents of Kobe were speechless as we watched the newsof this tragedy on television, remembering the sorrow and pain
we experienced during the Kobe Earthquake. The connection
felt through this emergency was so strong that one NGO
group of volunteers in Kobe dispatched a reconnaissanceteam, which included two Kobe University students, to Miyagi
prefecture that very evening. Since that day, numerous similar
excursions from Kobe have followed.

The disaster also caused severe damage to universities in theregion. One of which was Tohoku University, a leading national3

Speech by HE Mr Kojiro Shiojiri
Ambassador of Japan to the European Union

Speech by Mrs Manuela Soares
Director of the Environment Directorate,
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation,
European Commission

Good morning. Distinguished

Good morning. Mr Ambassador, Mr

guest, ladies and gentlemen. Last

President, ladies and gentlemen,

September, the Kobe University

I m very pleased to have been

Brussels European Centre wasinvited to the second symposium

opened. It was the ﬁrst time anyof the Kobe University Brussels

Japanese national university

European Centre and on behalf ofestablished an oﬃce in Brussels,

the European Commission, I would

the capital of Europe. It is anlike to welcome you today inimportant landmark in Japan-EU

Brussels.

Academic Cooperation. I would like

The whole world was shocked by

to oﬀer my congratulations to the centre on its ﬁrst

the tragic event of March 2011, but amazed at the bravery ofanniversary.

the Japanese people. In this context and on behalf of theEuropean Union, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies

Since the disaster in Japan last March, our people have been

to the people and government of Japan. But the time has now

struggling very hard to overcome the aftermath. I would like tocome to move forward and develop solutions for disastersincerely express gratitude to our European friends for yourpreparedness and prevention. And this will require a collective

strong support.

eﬀort from key players, such as scientists, authorities andpolicy makers and this is also where international cooperation

Several days after the disaster hit, a CNN journalist, making aplays an important role.

live broadcast from the aﬀected area in Tohoku, described theIn this respect, Kobe is certainly a global preference. In

scene in front of him. He depicted it as a war between theJanuary, 2005, ten years after the devastating Kobe

worst of Mother Nature versus the best of human nature. That

earthquake, the United Nation General Assembly convened a

war is still continuing. We live to continue to ﬁght and we will

world conference on disaster risk reduction in Kobe. The

never give up.

conference took stock of progress made of disaster risk
reduction and set up a plan for the next 10 years. The

In a recent policy speech, new Japanese Prime Minister Noda

outcome of the UN conference, the Hyogo Declaration andquoted the words of Fukushima high school students,

Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 to 2015, shows adelivered from the bottom of their hearts. To be born incommitment from the international community to address

Fukushima, grow up in Fukushima and work in Fukushima, todisaster risk reduction and to engage in a resulted oriented

get married in Fukushima, have children in Fukushima andplan of action. This plan has two priorities; ﬁrst, to identify

bring up those children in Fukushima, to see our grandchildren

assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warningin Fukushima, to see our great grandchildren in Fukushima andsystems; and second, to use knowledge, innovation andto end our days in Fukushima. That is our dream. Our task is

education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all

to make those students realize their dream.

levels.
The partnership between Europe and Japan is a good example

I would like to read a piece of haiku, short Japanese poem,of how research can be improved through international or

which I made myself. EU President Herman Van Rompuy whobilateral cooperation. The last European Union-Japan Summit

was also present for the ﬁrst European Centre symposium is ain May marked the 20th anniversary of summits between the

haiku master. I would like to follow him.

two sides, highlighting the importance of further enhancing
the EU-Japan partnership by strengthening science andAfter dark nighttechnology cooperation. The recent Science and Technology

Beam of hope

Cooperation Agreement, which entered into force on the 29th

Shines for everyoneof March, established measures for a more structured andobjective based science and technology cooperation

I hope this symposium will give a beam of for hope topartnership. The ﬁrst EU-Japan Joint Committee meeting on

everyone.

Scientiﬁc and Technological Cooperation held in Tokyo lastJune, already focused on two important areas of research,Thank you very much.

4

renewable energy and critical raw materials.

As the next step, of course, considerable eﬀorts at the global

materials, and also by strengthening industry participation, inlevel will need to be made in order to address nuclear safety.

particular, small and medium enterprises, and establishing

But other challenges which we are currently facing include

formal, public-private partnerships. The third objective is toclimate change, natural hazards and disaster preparedness as

tackle societal challenges by contributing to the use ofwell as prevention. These were highlighted as topics ofvisions, policy objectives in areas such as climate change,

concern at the EU-Japan May Summit and are addressed inresource deﬁciency, healthy aging and energy transport

the environmental research programme under the Seventh

among others, and also engaging citizens as well as civil

Framework Program of Research and Development, which I am

society in the research and innovation chain. The multi-annual

responsible for.

ﬁnancial framework recently presented by the Commission

Cooperation with Japan on climate issues exists for quite

shows that investment in the research and innovation will besome time. The climate change research and sciencesigniﬁcantly increased for the period 2014 to 2020. Horizon

workshop that is co-organised by the Environment Research

2020, with its proposed budget of 80 billion euro, intends toProgramme and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science

boost Europe s global competitiveness and help create jobs

and Technology takes place every two years. The 6th

for the future. International cooperation will play a central roleworkshop is due to take place in Brussels on 10th of October.

in its implementation. And disaster risk reduction, addressed

This will be an opportunity for participants to discuss the longfrom diﬀerent perspectives, will certainly ﬁnd support withinand short term impacts of climate change and extreme

this research eﬀort, creating results which will be of direct

events. Later on today, my colleague, Dennis Peter, will

beneﬁt to our society.

provide you with an overview of the commission s work on

Thank you very much for your attention and I wish you a very

natural hazards. Information on the next call for proposals,

productive meeting.

which cover the things being discussed here today, will also
be made available.
I d like also to mention that Japanese research institutions
and scientists regularly take part in our programmes. Kobe
University is a partner in, for instance, one project called

Speech by Ms Paola Albrito

SYNER-G , which looks at seismic vulnerability. The Japan

Head of Europe Oﬃce, UN International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction

Meteorological Agency is working on a project on early
warning systems, REAKT project. The examples of thesetwo EU-funded projects will be presented also by thescientists this afternoon. Information exchange andGood morning, ladies andimprovements in our scientiﬁc research are shared because

gentlemen. It is a great pleasure

they are essential for risk management and in supporting

to be here today, representing theawareness and capacity building.

United Nations International

I hope that this event will provide us with a clear

Strategy for Disaster Reduction. I

understanding of the challenges that still lie ahead. Researchwould like to congratulate Kobein the international context can boost science and improve

University for organising andpolicy. It will also contribute to sound risk management

hosting this important event.

concepts as well as tools enabling society to become more

From the second half of 2009 toresilient.

the ﬁrst half of 2010, 285

Finally, let me just give you a very brief insight into the newdisasters killed and aﬀected more than 158 million people,

framework programme for research and innovation that we callclaimed 232 thousand lives, and caused U.S. dollars 51.4

now Horizon 2020. It has three main objectives. The ﬁrst is tobillion of economic damages. These were the numbers before

raise the excellence of the research base needed to generate

the greatest Japan earthquake, the earthquake ina higher number of world-class scientiﬁc breakthroughs.

Christchurch, New Zealand and the ﬂood in Australia. What

Strengthen Europe s science base and European research

are some of the facts? Disasters cause vulnerability toarea means among others, reinforcing the whole of European

natural hazards, kill more people in developing than in

Research Council, promoting planning, preparation anddeveloped countries, and more poor people in rich countries.

construction of large-scale research infrastructure andBut the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk

equipping the next generation of researchers with innovative

Reduction for 2011, it shares some positive ﬁndings in thisskills. The second objective is to boost competiveness andregard. Globally, mortality risk of ﬂoods and tropical cyclones

promote innovation by broadening support across the fullis now going to be down. Why? Because vulnerability

innovation cycle, including proof of concept, testing, piloting,

reduction has been aﬀected. For example, mortality rate fromdemonstration. By securing a strong position in key enabling

tropical cyclones in East Asia and the Paciﬁc, which

technologies such as ICT, nanotechnology or advanced

concentrates about 44 percent of the people exposed per5year, is now 50 percent lower than in 1980, in absolute

to similar or worse disasters.

terms, and a third lower per capita.

Advancing in addressing vulnerability to disasters requires a

Early warning systems save life. In Japan, a number of media

hand-in-hand approach between scientiﬁc community,

demonstrated that more than 90 percent of the total

education and decision makers. The priority three of the

population of the inundated area evacuated successfully.

Hyogo Framework for Action adopted in Kobe in Japan in

Thanks to the mixture of measures of drills and awareness2005 as an outcome of the world conference dedicated toactivities combined with issues of early warning. Vulnerability

this topic, points out some key activities to ensure theto hazards is very high and rapid increasing in the developedscientiﬁc advances are integrated in educational eﬀorts andcountry, with adverse impact on their economy. Again, thein addressing informed decision. Last week, UNISDR and the

Global Assessment Report 2011 points out that economic

European Commission Directorate-General for Research andloss risk is continuing to increase, particularly in wealthierInnovation, and EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of thecountries. In 2010, the economic loss risk to ﬂoods in theCouncil of Europe, organized a workshop which aims toOECD, which concentrates about 53 percent of the global

promote dialogue between the scientiﬁc and policy makers

GDP expose per year, is about 170 percent more than incommunity towards more eﬀective measures to adopt a

1990. Economic loss risk in the OECD is rising faster thanclimate through G and R. This dialogue needs to continue if

GDP per capita. Meaning, that the risk of losing wealth inwe want to reduce people risk.

weather related disasters is increasing faster than the wealthJapan in this context, is regarded as a role model with highthat is being created.

investments in disaster risk management and risk reduction.

Disaster risk has become an acute and increasing urban

The destruction and death toll would have been worse had

problem. Poorly planned urban environments, weak urban

Japan not fostered a culture of preparedness accompanied bygovernance and old and aging and fragile physicalrisk reduction choices. The Kobe University contributes ininfrastructure and gaps in the basic services, including rapid

moving forward this knowledge, and their presence in Brussels

urban growth, have increased pressure on the urban

represents an extension of education and knowledge in theenvironment and thus, also exposure to disaster risks.

ﬁeld of risk reduction. UNISDR collaborates with Kobe

Cities today, are major agents of economic opportunity,

University in the context of an overall partnership between

education and cultural life. 100 cities today are in control of

UNISDR and Japan, further enhanced by the presence of our

30 percent of the world economy. The need for maintenance

UNISDR sub-regional oﬃce in Kobe. The city is equally hosting

and upkeep of the city are crucial safety measure for thethe International Global Platform of the International Strategy

citizens. In Japan, the majority of buildings were proved asfor Disaster Reduction. Following the Great East Japan

earthquake resilient, so that only a few people were fatally

Earthquake, the platform has established an expert grouptrapped under fallen buildings.

meeting called Towards Greater Reconstruction from GreatDisaster risk reduction is not only a concern of state and local

East Japan Earthquake, with chance to provide valuable

governments, but also every citizen concerns andadvice based on experiences gained from large scale

responsibility. Lives and livelihood can be saved when disasterdisasters in the world to Japanese experts working forrisk reduction is made a priority at the local level, at therecovery and reconstruction in Japan. And to gain precious

national, and at the international level. Reality is that without

lessons from this painful disaster experience in Japan and toproper risk reduction awareness or policies and measure in

make them useful for disaster risk reduction in otherplace by national and local governments, and with morecountries.

population settling in exposed and high-risk areas and climate

Finally, I would like to congratulate Japan that has announced

change expected to further increase our exposure, we are

the intention to host the next World Conference on Disasterpoisoned for disasters that will increasingly aﬀect

Risk Reduction that will take place in 2015. I look forward tosustainability and development gains around the world in thecontinuing our collaboration and I wish this symposium a very

coming years and decades.

productive outcome. Thank you.

The Fukushima situation has generated debate and reﬂection
on safety in regards to nuclear power. Some countries are
re-examining their preferences and policy on energy sourcesin response to the events in Japan. The international
community is a key role in leading calls for countries toreassess all critical facilities, especially nuclear power plants,
against large scale hazards, and to revise or scale up
assumptions within their disaster management plans. In
Japan, with its high level infrastructure standards andpreparedness could not withstand major disasters. Other
parts of the world could equally be as vulnerable, if not more,

6

enhanced collaboration. But we do more than just that. On a
Speech by Prof Paul De Knop
President of Vrije Universiteit Brussel

larger scale, we will focus on an increase of theinternationalization of the education. In order to attract
international talent, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel will oﬀer a
suﬃcient number of English taught programs, exceeding thepresent number. We will also conduct intensive promotion of

Dear Mr President, dear

incoming and outgoing mobility of students, researchers andAmbassador, Mrs Soares and Mrs

staﬀ. And one of the things I hope even to realize is to set up

Albrito, dear colleagues, ladies andan international student hotel on campus. We believe that the

gentlemen, dear students, on

intake of international students, researchers and staﬀ

behalf of the Vrije Universiteit

contributes to a dynamic exchange of knowledge and skills.

Brussel, I welcome you all at our

And where else can you achieve this better than in Brussels,

university. We are very honoured toa city with such a wide variety of people and cultures. That ishave the esteemed

why we also stimulate our own students, researchers andrepresentatives of Kobe University,staﬀ to engage in mobility, to provide them with competences

as well as the Japanesethat better qualify them to work in a globalizing world. As a

Ambassador to the EU and important representatives of theresult, internationalization will form an important part of theEuropean Commission as our guests today.

new strategic plan I will present to my Board of Governance,

On top of that, I m very pleased that Kobe University has

strategic plan for the years 2012 to 2016.

chosen our university as the location for its university

Ladies and gentlemen, I am a ﬁrm believer that stronger

symposium. The VUB is an excellent choice for a symposium

collaborations between academic institutions in Europe and inthat will try to improve the mutual understanding about theAsia, and speciﬁcally Japan, can contribute to a better mutual

earthquake and tsunami between the EU and Japan.

understanding. That is why I am very pleased that it s a

Today, you re in the auditorium of hope, the auditorium of thecompliment to do a symposium. Kobe University oﬀers afuture, since it s our room where all the PhDs are defended.

half-day interactive workshop for students in Belgium and in

May this room also be for you a guarantee for success.

Japan through teleconferencing. Prior to the video conference

When we refer to Brussels, we often call it the Capital ofsession, students in Belgium will be provided with

Europe . This city has a long history of hosting thetestimonials of ﬁeld observations from their Japaneseinstitutions of the European Union within its European

counterparts in the region of the Great East Japan

Quarter, the headquarters of the NATO, and many other

Earthquake and Tsunami. The images of the devastating

national and international institutions and companies. And intsunami have shocked us all. And although we already saw

the middle, between all these important organizations, themany images of the destructive forces of nature on television,

Vrije Universiteit Brussel is located on two parkland

in the newspapers or on the internet; there are many stories

campuses. So, we can literally say that we have the world at

yet to be told. A better understanding of the impact of theseour doorstep. We consider this unique position in Brussels alarge scale events is, indeed, necessary. New media andmajor opportunity.

technologies provide us with all kinds of possibilities there.

Nowadays, major global trends require the universities to takeLet us use them for the best.

up new responsibilities. One of them is that, due to the eﬀects

Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues, let me conclude byof globalization, universities have the responsibility to educate

wishing you all a very inspiring symposium. I m sure thatstudents to global citizens.

Brussels and our VUB campus will oﬀer you a very stimulating

Two years ago, I proposed the university an overall strategic

environment to make it a remarkable symposium. Thank youplan for the period 2009 to 2012. One of the strategic

very much.

entities of this plan was becoming a real international
university. Today, this strategic entity is getting shape. The
Brussels University Alliance, and initiative of ourFrench-speaking sister university, ULB and VUB to join forces
to enhance the international proﬁle of Brussels. It s a new
step in the international ambitions of the VUB. With it, theBrussels universities aim at achieving a greater international
visibility and impact through developing high international
quality standards and through using European andinternational dimension of Brussels. The support of thesecond Kobe University Symposium in Brussels by VUB and
ULB, is just one of the many manifestations of this new7