防災の日
日本は四季折々の美しい自然に恵まれた国です。世界から多くの観光客が訪れるのも、この豊かな自然が溢れているからでもあります。その一方で、日本は地震、津波、台風、火山噴火といった自然災害が非常に多い国でもあります。
古代から現代に至るまで、日本人はこれらの災害と向き合い、大きな被害を受けながらも、立ち上がり、再び生活を築いてきました。そこには「自然と共生する」という考え方、そして「忍耐強さ」や「他者を思いやる心」が育まれてきた背景があります。
日本の文化には、自然を尊び、その力に畏敬の念を抱く考えが色濃く残っています。神道の「八百万の神」の考え方もその一つで、山や川、風や火といった自然そのものに神が宿るとされてきました。
この考え方は、他国でみられる「人間が自然をコントロールする」という発想とは対照的です。欧米の歴史は、自然を克服し、開拓し、利用するという流れをたどってきました。一方、日本人は「自然に従い、調和して生きる」ことを選んできたのです。
“In the West, people often try to control nature. In Japan, people try to live with nature.”
大きな災害が起きたとき、日本人の「冷静さ」や「秩序正しさ」が世界で話題になることがあります。避難所では列を作り、物資を分け合い、助け合う姿が当たり前に見られます。
一方、多くの国では災害時にパニックや略奪が発生することも少なくありません。特にアメリカや南米では、大規模な災害時にスーパーや商店が襲撃されるニュースを耳にすることがあります。これは文化的に「個人の自由」や「自分を守る」ことが優先される傾向があるためです。
日本では「個人よりも共同体を守る」という考えが根づいているため、自然と秩序が保たれるのです。
“In some countries, disasters cause panic or looting. In Japan, people usually stay calm and help each other.”
日本の小学校では、年間を通じて避難訓練が行われます。地震や火災を想定した訓練に加え、津波避難の練習をする地域もあります。家庭でも非常用持ち出し袋を用意し、避難所の場所を確認しておくことが習慣となっています。
一方、海外では「防災教育」の内容や頻度は国によって大きく異なります。たとえばアメリカの学校では火災訓練や銃乱射に備える訓練が行われる一方、地震や津波の訓練はほとんどありません。ヨーロッパでは防災意識は高まってきていますが、日本ほど日常的に訓練を行う国は多くありません。
“In Japan, children practice earthquake drills at school. In many countries, schools don’t have such training.”
歴史を振り返ると、日本はたびたび大きな地震や津波に襲われてきました。例えば江戸時代には「安政の大地震」、近代では「関東大震災」、そして現代の「東日本大震災」など。そうした出来事のたびに、人々は住まいや町づくりのあり方を見直し、防災への知恵を蓄えてきました。
木造建築には「しなやかさ」があり、倒壊しても火災の延焼を防ぐ工夫がなされました。また、津波の教訓を石碑に刻み「ここより下に家を建てるな」と子孫に伝えた地域もあります。
“In history, Japanese people learned from many earthquakes and tsunamis. They left messages for the future, like stone markers telling people not to build houses too close to the sea.”
一方で、ヨーロッパやアメリカは大地震のリスクが比較的少なく、自然災害の中心は洪水やハリケーンでした。そのため、建築や文化において「耐震」という概念が日本ほど強く根づいていないのです。
“Japan learned from many earthquakes. In Europe, earthquakes are rare, so people focus more on floods or storms.”
日本の防災文化は、単なる知識や技術だけでなく、社会の価値観や歴史に根ざしています。災害の多い土地で育まれた「忍耐」「秩序」「共生の心」は、日本人が世界に誇れる文化のひとつでしょう。
海外の人々にとって、日本の防災文化は驚きであると同時に、学ぶべき点が多いはずです。そして、私たち自身も改めて「災害と共に生きる」という姿勢を未来に伝えていく必要があるのではないでしょうか。
Disaster Preparedness in Japan: Learning to Live with Nature
Japan is a country blessed with breathtaking natural beauty. Cherry blossoms in spring, the blue seas of summer, autumn leaves, and snowy winter landscapes attract millions of tourists every year. Yet, this same land of beauty is also one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, facing earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.
From ancient times to the modern day, Japanese people have lived alongside these disasters—sometimes suffering great losses, but always rebuilding and moving forward. Through these experiences, a mindset of “living in harmony with nature”, as well as values such as patience, resilience, and compassion for others, has been nurtured.
Respecting Nature as Sacred
Japanese culture places a deep respect on nature. In Shinto belief, the idea of “Yaoyorozu no Kami” (literally “eight million gods”) teaches that mountains, rivers, winds, and even fire are inhabited by deities. Nature itself is seen as divine.
This contrasts with the Western historical perspective of “conquering and controlling nature.” In Europe and America, people traditionally sought to tame, exploit, and develop natural environments. In Japan, however, the cultural choice was to accept, adapt, and live in balance with nature.
“In the West, people often try to control nature. In Japan, people try to live with nature.”
Calm and Order During Disasters
When major disasters strike, the calmness and orderliness of Japanese society often surprises the world. In evacuation shelters, people line up patiently, share supplies, and help each other.
By contrast, in many countries, disasters can lead to panic or even looting. In the U.S. or South America, it is not uncommon to hear reports of supermarkets or stores being attacked after a major hurricane or earthquake. These differences reflect cultural values: in some societies, individual freedom and self-protection are emphasized, while in Japan, the priority is often protecting the community as a whole.
“In some countries, disasters cause panic or looting. In Japan, people usually stay calm and help each other.”
Disaster Education from Childhood
Disaster preparedness in Japan is not just a government policy—it is a way of life. Japanese children participate in regular evacuation drills throughout the school year, practicing what to do during earthquakes, fires, and even tsunamis depending on the region. Families also keep emergency kits at home and know where the nearest shelters are located.
In contrast, disaster education varies greatly around the world. In the U.S., schools often practice fire drills or active shooter drills, but earthquake or tsunami training is rare. In Europe, awareness is growing, but few countries conduct drills as regularly as Japan.
“In Japan, children practice earthquake drills at school. In many countries, schools don’t have such training.”
Learning from History
History has taught Japan many painful lessons. From the Great Ansei Earthquake of the Edo period, to the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, each disaster forced society to rethink how to build safer homes and towns.
Traditional wooden architecture emphasized flexibility, helping buildings sway rather than collapse. In coastal regions, villagers carved warnings into stone monuments: “Do not build homes below this point.” These messages were meant to protect future generations.
“In history, Japanese people learned from many earthquakes and tsunamis. They left messages for the future, like stone markers telling people not to build houses too close to the sea.”
By comparison, Europe and North America faced fewer large earthquakes. Their main natural threats were floods, storms, and hurricanes. As a result, the concept of earthquake-resistant architecture did not develop as strongly as it did in Japan.
“Japan learned from many earthquakes. In Europe, earthquakes are rare, so people focus more on floods or storms.”
Finding Beauty in Coexistence
Despite the harshness of natural disasters, Japanese people continue to cherish the beauty of the seasons—celebrating cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and snow. This is not the culture of “conquering nature”, but of “coexisting with nature.”
Western cities often aim to control nature for comfort and convenience. Japan, on the other hand, has nurtured a sensitivity to accept nature as it is—finding beauty even in its unpredictability.
“Western culture tries to control nature. Japanese culture finds beauty in living with nature.”
A Culture of Preparedness and Resilience
Japan’s disaster preparedness is more than knowledge and technology—it is deeply rooted in history and cultural values. Patience, order, and the spirit of coexistence with nature are cultural strengths born from living in a disaster-prone land.
For people abroad, Japan’s resilience may seem surprising, but it offers important lessons. As climate change increases natural disasters worldwide, perhaps the Japanese way of “living with disasters, not against them” will inspire others.
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