Japan launched its National Disaster Management Agency in Tokyo on Monday, Nov. 2, putting Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in charge of one national body for disaster preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction.
The agency was created by expanding and reorganizing the Cabinet Office’s disaster-management division. It aims to improve coordination across government before and during major emergencies. More than 350 staff are expected to work on its responsibilities, which include helping communities affected by disasters recover.
The new agency is intended to prepare for hazards including earthquakes beneath Tokyo and along the Nankai Trough, volcanic eruptions, floods and torrential rain. The launch reflects longstanding concerns about the possible scale of a disaster. Those concerns grew after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, which killed nearly 20,000 people.
Reconstruction Minister Goshi Hosono will also serve as disaster-management minister and oversee the agency’s work. He can recommend disaster measures to other ministries and agencies, and they are required to respect those recommendations. The government also plans to set up regional hubs to improve coordination with local authorities.
Their locations are expected to be chosen in summer 2027, and operations are planned to begin by July 2028. The agency will need to help municipalities with limited budgets or no disaster-management specialists. It will also need to address evacuation capacity and recovery needs.