[July 2017]
21 – Rainy Season and Deluges – A Year of Local Governments in Japan

There are two peak periods in Japan where the risk of flooding is at its highest. One is called tsuyu which literally translates to “rain for growing plums” that goes from mid-June to mid-July and another in September when typhoons often strike Japan. The danger of flooding is at its highest during the latter half of tsuyu.

As you may have seen on several ABC news reports, there has recently been severe flooding and consequent landslides in Kyushu claiming more than 25 lives with around 20 people still unaccounted for. We have already confirmed the safety of all JET participants in the area but remain anxious about the total damage caused by the disaster and continue to hope for a prompt recovery.

Flood prevention is thought to be one of the most fundamental function of governments in East Asia which is subject to severe rainy seasons. The oldest embankment in Japan that currently exists was built in the 4th century and Japanese governments have struggled to continue building and maintaining similar embankments and facilities to manage strong river torrents. Nowadays, Japanese central and local governments share the task of flood prevention where the central government is responsible for managing large rivers that flow over the boundary of prefectures and coordinating policies and inter-governmental measures. Prefectural governments look after relatively large rivers within their areas and municipals are in charge of smaller ones.

Due to its humid climate and mountainous terrain, Japan is prone to natural disasters such as heavy rain and landslides. As such, the Japanese government is making every effort to prevent and prepare for such events.

 

Katsunori Kamibo

Director

Posted in From the Executive Director

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  • To investigate environmental countermeasures, a student and her chaperone from Hikone Technological High School of Shiga Prefecture visited Australia from late July to early August. CLAIR Sydney conducted a briefing on 29 July about Australia’s culture and customs, and accompanied the group to a company visit in Brisbane on 31 July, where the company, known for producing products using a type of seaweed called Asparagopsis, shared insights into their research and production processes.

    During the visit, they received information on efforts to reduce methane emissions from livestock using Asparagopsis, viewed from a carbon-neutral perspective. The student’s proactive participation in the meetings, driven by a desire to engage in environmental initiatives in the future, was impressive.

    In addition to the briefing and accompaniment, we also reached out to the company to request a representative to discuss their Asparagopsis research. CLAIR Sydney will continue to support the activities of Japanese local governments conducting research on topics related to Australia.

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