Anthropology and Disaster in Japan - Cultural Contributions to Recovery After 2011 Earthquake Tsunami

This book focuses on the 3.11 disaster in Japan, involving a powerful earthquake and tsunami, from an anthropological perspective. It critically reflects on the challenges of conducting anthropological research when encountering disaster at home and the position of social scientist as sufferer. Emphasizing the role of culture in disaster mitigation, the book offers theoretical consideration of the role of cultural heritage in risk management, in line with recent trends in international policy on disaster risk reduction. Taking an approach "with the people in," the author explores how culture features in disaster recovery at community level and considers implications for policy. The chapters explore the response and adaptation by local cultural practitioners and performing arts groups as well as farmers and fishers. Japanese farming and fishing are presented as an innovative and dynamic part of the recovery process. The book will be of interest to scholars and policymakers working in disaster studies, Japan studies, and fields including anthropology, geography, sociology, and heritage management.

List of contents

1 Introduction
2 The anthropologist as both victim and disaster researcher
3 Reflections from a survey of post-disaster intangible cultural heritage
4 The structural time in the folk performing arts
5 The strategies of the paddy farmers with indigenous knowledge
6 The norms of recovery among small-scale fisheries
7 Conclusions

About the author

Hiroki Takakura is Professor of Social Anthropology at Tohoku University, Japan. He is affiliated with the Center for Northeast Asian Studies and the Graduate School of Environmental Studies.

Summary

This book focuses on the 3.11 disaster in Japan, involving a powerful earthquake and tsunami, from an anthropological perspective.

Product details

• Authors: Hiroki Takakura
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 28.03.2023
• EAN: 9781032372396
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3237239-6
• No. of pages: 116
• Series: Routledge Focus on Anthropology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > General, dictionaries; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geography; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Japan, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disasters & Disaster Relief, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography, Social and cultural anthropology, Natural disasters, Human Geography, c 2010 to c 2020, c 2010 to c 2019, Museology & heritage studies, Museology and heritage studies