Wednesday, April 11th, 2012...12:04 pm
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Japans Crisis Management and Security
Monday, April 9, 2012
6:00PM- 7:30PM
Irvine Auditorium, Monterey Institute of International Studies
The Center for East Asian Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Presents:
The Great East Japan Earthquake and Japans Crisis Management and Security, By Masataka Suzuki,
Former Member of the House of Councillors (Upper House), State-Secretary for Defense Affairs, and Vice President of the Nation Defense Medical College, Japan
On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the most destructive natural disaster in its postwar history. A magnitude-9 earthquake hit its northeast region and triggered a huge tsunami that washed away many coastal communities. Almost 19,000 people were killed in this natural disaster. The tsunami also caused a power outage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Fukushima Prefecture, leading to a meltdown of three of its nuclear reactors. The highly radioactive materials that were released into the atmosphere forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, with many people still living in temporary quarters a year later. In the wake of the triple-disaster, Japan’s capacity in crisis management and security provision has come under domestic and international criticism and scrutiny.
Based on his many years of service in the Defense Agency (now Defense Ministry) of Japan, Mr. Suzuki will discuss how Japan has been coping with the triple-disaster and what lessons are to be learned from Japan’s experience.
