precipitation amounts and other data points rather than just evacuate by way of an approach that involves waiting for evacuation instructions; and, (ii) in order to prevent catastrophic damage to society and the economy, a collective societal response is necessary, whereby worst-case scenarios are envisioned and the national and local governments, business operators, and other concerned parties all share a sense of impending crisis. Various initiatives are underway based on this understanding.

## (2) Preventing and Mitigating Water Disasters

Large-scale water disasters caused by tropical cyclones or the like (for example, disasters caused by Typhoon Wipha visited Izu Oshima Island and other regions in Japan in 2013 and storm surge disasters caused by Hurricane Sandy in US in 2012) are getting more frequent and serious. With this situation in mind, the “Underground Mall, Subway, Etc. Working Group” and “Disaster Action Plan Working Group” have been set up under the “Water Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Headquarters, MLIT” chaired by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in January, 2014, to study the measures to be taken when water disasters occur.

The Underground Malls, Subways, Etc., Working Group has summarized responses to issues concerning underground settings and disseminated this summary to the relevant organizations. Accordingly, flood measures have been applied on a coordinated basis to underground malls, subways, and connected buildings in the three major metropolitan areas.

The Disaster Action Plan Working Group provides support to enable the heads of municipalities to issue evacuation instructions at appropriate times and has formulated timelines focused on the issuance of evacuation instructions for rivers under the direct jurisdiction of the national government, as well as timelines for bringing together twenty organizations and thirty-seven departments and agencies, including local governments, railways, electricity power operators, telecommunications operators, and welfare facilities, in the downstream basin of the Arakawa River. Modeled on this approach, councils have been established for Ishikari River (Hokkaido), Kuma River (Kumamoto), and other blocks throughout the country to commence studies on timelines for bringing together many concerned parties.

In August 2015, the third Conference of the MLIT Headquarters for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Measures In Connection With Water Disasters was held where it was decided that Regional Development Bureaus would primarily organize hearings to be attended by companies and other concerned parties in order to study the establishment of a Catastrophic Damage Prevention Working Group and initiatives that could be undertaken in collaboration with companies and other concerned parties. With the objective of minimally protecting lives and preventing catastrophic damage being caused to society and the economy in the context of an ideal way of engaging in disaster prevention and mitigation for the new stage as declared in January of the same year, this working group was established under the purview of the MLIT Headquarters for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Measures In Connection With Water Disasters for the purpose of studying measures to prevent catastrophic damage caused to society and the economy in accordance with an indication of orientation as to the necessity of a collective societal response informed by a shared sense of crisis. The Kanto, Chubu, and Kinki Regional Development Bureaus have set up councils in different areas and have been conducting hearings attended by companies and studies of the projected impact of disasters in terms of damage.

## (3) Responding to Climate Change

There are growing concerns about the intensified frequent occurrence of water disasters (river water flooding, inland water flooding, storm surges) and sediment-related disasters, droughts caused by natural hazards that exceed the capacity of facilities. In August 2015, a report was issued by the Infrastructure Development Council entitled “Approach to Climate Change Adaptations in the Field of Water-related Disasters”.

Regarding natural hazards that could occur relatively frequently, continue to steadily promote improvements that have been ongoing to date for the construction of levees, flood control structures, and sewer systems. Regarding natural hazards that exceed the capacity of facilities, endeavor to reduce risk by making improvements in facilities' operations, design and implementation procedures. For natural hazards that significantly exceed the capacity of facilities, aim for the protection of human life to the greatest extent possible and avoid catastrophic damage to the society and the economy, considering worst-case scenarios, and by developing measures with an emphasis on nonstructural measures.

## (4) Responding to the Nankai Trough Mega Earthquake and Tokyo Inland Earthquake

If the Nankai Trough Mega Earthquake occurs, it is predicted that a wide Pacific-side area from the Kanto region to