Characterizing Risk Communication and Awareness for Sustainable Society: The Case of Foreign Residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan

Adu-Gyamfi, Bismark; Shaw, Rajib

doi:10.3390/su13115786

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…It is necessary to ensure real-time access and exchange of information, advice and opinions so that everyone at risk can make informed decisions and take action to prevent, mitigate and respond to potential emergencies. Public information activities need to be coordinated among stakeholders to avoid disseminating conflicting information and adapted to the risks and needs of diverse at-risk populations, including those with higher levels of vulnerability [58][59][60].…”

Section: Risk Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indonesia’s Climate-Related Disasters and Health Adaptation Policy in the Build-Up to COP26 and Beyond

et al. 2022

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In recent years, Indonesia has experienced rapid increases in severe climate-related disasters have dramatically impacted populations unevenly; the poor and the vulnerable populations are most affected, and adaptive measures are urgently needed to protect and mitigate the impact on their health. However, very little is known about the existing measures addressing climate-related disasters and health impacts among vulnerable groups. WHO established a Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management framework to urge governments and relevant actors to systematically collect evidence to develop science-based feasible adaptive strategies for priority groups. This study used scoping review methods to identify the action areas of Health-EDRM in policy documents in Indonesia, its content, and any potential gaps that require further study. The results from the documents’ review were then reported and discussed at a national stakeholder consultation meeting. This study has identified several achievements, lessons learned, and challenges from strategies and policies for health adaptation in facing climate-related disasters in Indonesia. This study also proposed strategies and recommendations to support mobilizing and accelerating health adaptation actions towards climate-related disasters in Indonesia.

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Section: Risk Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indonesia’s Climate-Related Disasters and Health Adaptation Policy in the Build-Up to COP26 and Beyond

et al. 2022

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“…The contents within these two identified approaches share similar characteristics described as public dialogue and knowledge co-production (Matthew C. Nisbet, 2015). These arrangements of engagement suit the purpose of offering theoretical and practical experience to foreign residents whom many are novice to disaster preparedness protocols in Japan and the metropolis (Adu-Gyamfi and Shaw, 2021a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although Chinese nationals seem to be the dominant among this composition, other nationalities such as Vietnamese and Filipinos have gradually appreciated in numbers in recent years. The increasing number and the changing composition have already been researched to create challenges to risk information dissemination and accessibilities (Adu-Gyamfi and Shaw, 2021a). Furthermore, their agglomeration in certain communities in the metropolis is also a potential element to exposing their risk levels in event of an earthquake (Adu-Gyamfi and Shaw, 2021b).…”

Section: Situation Of Foreign Residents In Tokyo Metropolitan Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public engagement approaches to disaster preparedness for foreign residents: case of Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan

Gyamfi

Shaw

2022

IJDRBE

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Purpose Foreign residents in Japan are classified as one vulnerable group at risk of disasters. Therefore, various measures are in place to engage, educate and offer first-hand experiences of disaster countermeasures required to overcome systematic disaster preparedness problems. However, the need for Japan to prevent the spread and infection of COVID-19 has necessitated measures that prohibit public gatherings and other social activities. This study aims to look at how these arrangements have impacted public engagement approaches to disaster preparedness for foreign residents within the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Design/methodology/approach This study identifies local organizations and examines their methods of engagement that enhance the disaster preparedness of foreign residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The activities are examined in the context of when there was no COVID-19 pandemic and the current state of the pandemic. A change in activities attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic is then extracted and explained through field surveys and interviews with the relevant organization. Findings This study reveals that most disaster preparedness activities were best accomplished through in-person engagements. Nevertheless, online engagements have become the alternative option because of COVID-19 infection prevention. This change has widen the coverage of some activities but major setbacks include events cancelations and technical and technological challenges attributed to using online platforms. Research limitations/implications This study did not examine the effectiveness of pre-COVID-19 pandemic engagement approaches and current changes attributed to the pandemic; many public engagement literatures acknowledge success to include the number of participants, the abilities of organizations to find ways to effectively and positively engage their stakeholders for meaningful partnerships, the number of clicks, access to a website and comments made online. Therefore, as organizations in this study have shown a glimpse of the above characteristics, there are indications of some level of effectiveness in their engagement approaches even amid a pandemic. Practical implications To avoid such situations in the future, there is the need for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, local governments and associated organizations to develop public engagement approaches that are flexible to resist or cope with in-person, remote encounters, or sudden circumstances that could potentially derail planned activities. Social implications The most effects attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic are the cancelation of many disaster drill exercises, community disaster walks, training of volunteers for foreign residents’ assistance and many hours of “Yasashii Nihongo” lesson. The cancelation of activities is a setback to the efforts of self-help and mutual aid campaigns by authorities to reduce the impacts of disasters. Originality/value The spirit of inclusion has been an embodiment of disaster management approaches in Japan for years for which policy recognitions have been tagged along the dimensions of public aid, self-help and mutual aid. These are aimed at engaging the populace, especially foreign residents in disaster training and exercises, language study and other communal activities for disaster preparedness. However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there have been a series of restrictions on gathering and inter-personal public engagement activities in Japan. As foreigners are classified as the most vulnerable to disaster in Japan, it is important to understand how these restrictions will/are affecting the efforts of integration and disaster preparedness, which are a crucial part of the Government’s effort to reduce casualties and damage in the anticipated Nankai megathrust earthquake. Besides the results being useful for government interventions, it also adds to the knowledge of the repercussion of COVID-19 and how to plan for emergencies.

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“…This overall process places the final decision on disaster preparedness measures within the hands of the individual such that, the ability to reduce or prevent the impact of a disaster depends on the level of responsibility or compliance with recommended countermeasure actions [ 5 , 6 ]. Although empirical evidence suggests that Japanese people are generally prepared for disasters [ 7 ], foreign residents in the country are assumed to be the opposite [ 8 ]. Reasons attributed to the latter include cultural differences, lack of participation in local disaster measures, risk information and communication challenges, countries of origin, and others that inhibit them from knowing what actions to take toward disaster preparedness [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Awareness and Impediments to Disaster Preparedness of Foreign Residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan

Adu-Gyamfi

Shaw

2022

IJERPH

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The likelihood of a mega-earthquake, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat of other disasters in the Tokyo Metropolitan area have necessitated collective responsibilities to take all possible actions to reduce their impacts. The experiences from past disasters have, however, highlighted the plight of foreign residents in coping with disasters and have reinvigorated calls for rigorous counteractions. As the population of foreign residents continues to increase in the metropolis, this research examines their awareness of risks and the obstacles that hinder disaster preparedness in the wake of future disasters. An Extended Parallel Process Model is utilized to analyze both secondary and primary data sources, and the results reveal that 65% perceive the severity of disaster as a threat and believe in a likelihood of occurrence in the city; however, the confidence to undertake some recommended countermeasures are lacking (with low efficacy of 70%). This is causing many to control their fear by not actively seeking further risk information or participating in disaster prevention activities. In consideration of these instances, the study recommends a collective approach built upon the merits of stakeholder engagements to provide vicarious experiences, verbal persuasions, and mastery experiences to boost the response capacities of foreign residents for disaster preparedness. This will be relevant for city authorities to enhance risk communication and foster foreigner–Japanese community integration.

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Characterizing Risk Communication and Awareness for Sustainable Society: The Case of Foreign Residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan

Cited by 7 publications

References 30 publications

Indonesia’s Climate-Related Disasters and Health Adaptation Policy in the Build-Up to COP26 and Beyond

Indonesia’s Climate-Related Disasters and Health Adaptation Policy in the Build-Up to COP26 and Beyond

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public engagement approaches to disaster preparedness for foreign residents: case of Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan

Risk Awareness and Impediments to Disaster Preparedness of Foreign Residents in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan

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