This study surveyed the current state of school disaster education in coastal areas in school (elementary and junior high schools) in three prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima) affected by the Great East Japan earthquake (11th March, 2011) in ninth year of the disaster by questionnaire and analyzed the data by comparing among prefectures and between school types. The results of differences among prefectures showed that the degree of the Nuclear Power Plant was larger in Fukushima prefecture than in Miyagi prefecture, and in Miyagi prefecture than in Iwate prefecture, and the degree of reputational damage was larger in Fukushima prefecture than in Iwate prefecture and Miyagi prefecture (no difference between Iwate prefecture and Miyagi prefecture). Mechanisms of nature phenomenon (e.g., earthquake and tsunami) and mental health care tend not to be taught in Fukushima prefecture compared with other two prefectures. The results of differences　by school types revealed that elementary school teachers teach the facts and experiences of the disaster (e.g., the damage of the disaster, the story of recovery, the disaster experience, and the situation of the school area) compared with junior high school teachers. Also elementary school teachers regard increasing the number of children who do not know the disaster as a problem compared to junior high school teachers, but there is no difference in mental health support to children and their parents between school types. These results uncovered the differences of school disaster education in elementary and junior high school in coastal area in three prefectures. Finally, this study discusses the importance and significance of a longitudinal study and a case study in future research.

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In this research, we clarified actual situations and issues of disaster prevention efforts for companies, mainly disaster prevention education and training, based on the efforts and some advanced cases that can be used as references for solving the problems. Despite the fact that many companies have experienced damage from natural disasters, progress in disaster prevention efforts has been slower than disaster prevention efforts in schools and communities, and the smaller the company, the stronger the tendency. It is said that the cause is shortage of human resources, including experts. Even companies that are working on it say that disaster prevention education for employees is an issue. In addition, experts is necessary to incorporate new disaster prevention education techniques such as e-learning and use of hazard maps.

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The importance of training in disaster prevention is clear from the fact that various types of training are obligatory under Fire Service Act and Basic Act on Disaster Management in Japan. Initial firefighting training using fire extinguishers is one of the most common disaster prevention drills. We have focused on the issue that some initial firefighting drills concentrate only on how to use fire extinguishers. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of current firefighting personnel who are experts in fire extinguishing. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey for the firefighters as firefighting experts in the field to understand what actions are necessary for safe and effective initial firefighting. We attempted to organize and create educational materials that include not only fire extinguisher operation but also pre- and post-extinguishing actions. Using the training materials we made, the authors conducted training for residents, and verified the training materials based on quantitative evaluations of the training content by the participants. Through this series of work, the authors present their thoughts on how to design a highly effective disaster training program that does not stop at simply teaching how to operate equipment and materials.

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Currently, disaster prevention education is mainly for children, and there is little disaster prevention education for adults of the parents’ generation. In addition to the mechanism of earthquakes and evacuation methods, there are quite a few aspects of disaster prevention education that require the understanding of adults, such as seismic reinforcement and furniture fixing to reduce disaster risk, and non-life insurance that transfers disaster risk to others. Therefore, the authors held a workshop where parents and children could learn about disaster prevention. In this paper, we report and discuss the results of the three-year workshop and future developments.

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Elementary school and junior high school in Hiroshima Prefecture, after the heavy rains in July 2018, a disaster risk reduction learning is being promoted for students. On the other hand, it is thought that university students, many of whom come from other prefectures, find it difficult to evacuate in the event of a disaster due to a lack of understanding of the natural disaster risks in their residential areas. Therefore, we planned a mutual disaster risk reduction activity at a university festival in which many university students participate. And we examined the effect of understanding the risks of natural disasters in the region by visiting classes. According to the results of the questionnaire, 95.0% of elementary school students and 96.4% of junior high school students answered that they “understood very well” or “understood.” Among the university students who participated in the festival project, 84.4% obtained a high degree of understanding. More than 90% of elementary school students, junior high school students, and university students answered that they would like to convey to their surroundings what they have learned about disaster prevention. After attended our plan, university students selected measures that presented by elementary and junior high school students, for future disaster prevention action. More than half of the university students believe that this plan had deepened their understanding of the natural disaster risks in their residential areas more than other disaster prevention events, and requested a same project for the next year’s university festival. According to the effect of Mutual disaster risk reduction activity was recognized.

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Recently, as the danger of disasters has increased, many schools have developed a wide variety of school disaster preparedness education programs. However, the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 has made it difficult for many schools to continue school disaster preparedness education, but there are some schools where disaster preparedness education has been developed in a creative way during the COVID-19. In this study, we analyzed articles covering the “2020 Bosai Koshien” to explore the characteristics and factors of school disaster preparedness education in the COVID-19. As a result, we were able to classify the characteristics of school disaster preparedness education in the COVID-19 into four categories. Furthermore, 1) the contents of school disaster preparedness education activities are clarified, and it was made clear with whom schools have deep relationship in those activities. And 2) the background and educational policy of each school have influenced the factors that has made it possible to continue school disaster preparedness education in the COVID-19.

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The low evacuation rate of residents from sediment-related disaster is one of major problems. The effectiveness of disaster prevention education in elementary, junior high, and high schools has been called into question, and there are few papers on the educational effects of the education at universities. Therefore, we analyzed the educational effects by having students freely choose their own disaster awareness before and after a disaster prevention class given by the person in charge of erosion control in the prefecture, and having them look at the reasons for the change in their awareness. The results showed that more than half of the students voluntarily changed their social acceptance to facility construction, evacuation, and residential relocation after learning the measures taken by front-line experts, but there are still many students who accept disasters without taking measures due to the scale of natural disasters and the difficulty of predicting them.

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This paper is a record of the activities of a high school student concertmaster of the Narita Junior String Orchestra, who has been severely restricted in his activities due to public opinion that “music is unnecessary and urgent” during the prolonged COVID-19 disaster in Japan, and who has tried to solve the problems of disaster medicine and disaster awareness in the region through his own performance activities. We examined what local amateur musicians can contribute to the predictive, chronic, and tranquil phases of the local disaster medical cycle. Based on the results, a regional exploration team was established with fellow members of the junior orchestra, and the team worked on “raising awareness of disaster prevention through musical performance (the precursor phase),” “consolatory performances in disaster-stricken areas (the chronic phase),” and “development of new disaster prevention music TENDENKO, incorporating methods of natural disaster transmission through Ainu folk music (the tranquil phase). This is a practice in which high school musicians attempted to solve problems in regional disaster prevention and disaster medicine, such as passing on disaster prevention crisis awareness in disaster-stricken areas and contributing to the healing of disaster victims through music, through their own performance activities.

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