East Japan earthquake and tsunami: lessons for the education sector

This publication provides a compilation of lessons learned for the education sector from the 2011 East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster. It explores the benefits of education sector preparedness measures on disaster risk during and following the East Japan Earthquake. The study analyses the role that hard and soft components of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in education, or lack thereof, played during the disaster, including policy and planning, teaching and learning, and facilities and infrastructure. It was undertaken in order to build an evidence base for the importance of DRR in education and to strengthen regional and global knowledge and understanding of how education can contribute to reducing disaster risk. The study was undertaken by Kyoto University’s Laboratory of International Environment and Disaster Management.