Large-scale floods have been occurring more frequently in Japan as a result of current global weather anomalies, yet evacuation procedures face several issues. These include low evacuation rates of citizens, wide-area evacuation by car, and residents who cannot evacuate on their own. For example, in the Kofu Basin, Yamanashi Prefecture, due to the size of the potential inundation area and a population that exceeds 300,000 people spread across 10 municipalities, a large number of residents would have to evacuate across municipal boundaries by car. The author proposed and applied a risk communication method to the Riverside District, Chuo City (with about 1400 households and a population of about 4000), assisting in developing a community disaster management plan for wide-area evacuation without a single victim in case of floods, which has been in place for three years. The next step was risk communication to key stakeholders, such as national, prefectural, and municipal governments. Finally, a public symposium on large-scale evacuation in the Kofu Basin was held. During the panel discussion with representatives of the Kofu River and National Road Office, prefectural government of Yamanashi, the municipality, community residents, and the author as panelists, the role of each stakeholder in area-wide evacuation was clarified and confirmed.

災害時の救急・救援活動や復旧活動に際して自動車の利用は不可欠であり、道路情報は最も重要な情報の一つである。しかし、大きな災害に際しては、刻々と変化する広域の道路状況をリアルタイムに把握することは容易ではなく、適切な情報が提供されているとは言い難い状況である。本稿では、プローブカー情報の減災利用に関する取り組みの一環として、2007年7月新潟県中越沖地震における「通れた道路マップ」の試験提供の取り組みについて報告するとともに、抽出された課題を提示した。さらに、プローブカーによる道路被害把握の可能性についても実データに基づき検討し、プローブカー情報の減災利用の実現に向けた課題と展望について議論した。

Extreme weather caused by global warming has caused an increase in the number and intensity of heavy rain disasters. Almost half the area of the Kofu Basin, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, is expected to be flooded by the largest expected rainfall in the basin. Approximately 310,000 people live in the inundation area, and the formulation of a wide-area evacuation plan in the event of a flood is an urgent issue. In the southern part of this area, where the estimated inundation depth is 5–10 m, a new station of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen Line, which will start operation in 2027, is planned, and urban development centered on the station is expected. In order to build a sustainable city that is resilient to floods in such a flood hazard area, the author established a study group on urban development consisting of knowledge brokers—professors at University of Yamanashi—and experts with the participation of local government observers. The group has proposed a future image of sustainable Kofu Basin under the initiative of knowledge brokers with the cooperation of experts. The group attempted to put into practice the concept of sustainable cities presented by the author. As a result, by the unusual town development activities of the study group, perspective drawings that provide the participants a common recognition of the city development were successfully created.

Sediment disasters, triggered by heavy rainfall, have resulted in significant human casualties and economic damage annually worldwide. Therefore, the promotion and implementation of disaster prevention strategies have emerged as crucial measures to mitigate the human and financial losses inflicted by these disasters. This article examines case studies in the mountainous regions of China and Japan, encompassing terrain conditions, local disaster risk factors, and residents’ awareness of disaster prevention, as well as their living conditions. The CAUSE model was employed to cultivate a relationship of mutual trust and cooperation with the residents through activities that promote disaster prevention and reduction. Feedback was also collected from the residents. In addition, relevant disaster prevention personnel were organized to participate in disaster prevention technical training, and feedback was collected through questionnaires (CAUSE is an acronym derived from the first letter of Confidence, Awareness, Understanding, Satisfaction with proposed Solutions, and Enactment). From the above inspection and analysis techniques used in the case studies in China and Japan, it is confirmed that disaster prevention and promotion work is closely linked. This analysis underscores the importance, necessity, and effectiveness of promoting disaster prevention at the local level. Furthermore, it offers crucial technical support for the local government’s efforts in disaster reduction and prevention.