International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University Uehiro Disaster Risk Reduction Research Division

About our division

Greetings

Welcome to the website of the Uehiro Disaster Risk Reduction Research Division.
 
Established in April 2025 within the International Research Institute of Disaster Science at Tohoku University, our division operates with the support of the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education.  Guided by our core mission- “Eliminating suffering caused by disasters”- we move forward by weaving together research and practical experience. 
 
What is Disaster Risk Reduction Studies?  It is an interdisciplinary field involving a wide variety of fields - seismology, climatology, civil engineering, urban planning, sociology, psychology, medicine, history, and more. By combining expertise, we work to tackle the growing challenges of disasters, which are becoming more complex and severe.
 
Located in a region affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, our institution places great importance on field-based practice and is deeply committed to returning the fruits of our research to society.
As the world faces increasingly severe weather-related disasters due to climate change, and rising disaster risks from population growth and urban concentration, we aim to respond with effective knowledge and action grounded in real-world experience.
 
We sincerely appreciate your continued guidance and support.
 

Yuichi Ono Ph.D.
Professor, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University 
Director, Uehiro Disaster Risk Reduction Research Division

Establishment

Uehiro Disaster Risk Reduction Research Division launched on April 1st, 2025 with the support of the Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education.

In 2007, Tohoku University established the Research Group on Disaster Prevention and Management, an interdisciplinary research team from 19 fields focusing on disaster risk reduction in local communities. 
In the midst of the activities of this group, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami occurred.  In response to the disaster, more faculty members participated in the activities of the group, not only to conduct multi-disciplinary studies on the disaster, but also to support local reconstruction efforts.  Having expanded the group, IRIDeS was established in 2012.  
 

Mission

Elimination of
disaster-related
suffering

We protect lives and livelihoods, working to eliminate disaster-related suffering.  Through research and practical action, we contribute to a safer and more resilient world.

Vision

  1. As a university located in a disaster-stricken area, we will make use of the lesson and promote research and education on disaster countermeasures to reduce disaster risk in Japan and the international community.
  2. We emphasize a transdisciplinary approach that leverages the unique strengths of each individual and work on the social issues together.  By working  in partnership with diverse stakeholders - including universities, research institutions, local governments, corporations, and NPOs / NGOs, we aim to become a global hub for disaster risk reduction.  Through the integration of academic knowledge, practical wisdom, and lived experience, we seek comprehensive solutions to global disaster-related issues.
  3. We aim to build a resilient society that can respond to diasters that are becoming more severe and complex due to climate change and population growth, and to develop practical disaster reduction human resources.  With an emphasis on practice, we will contribute to "improving disaster reduction capabilities around the world" by promoting the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and looking ahead to the 2030 post-Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Activity overview

  1. Making most use of the diversity of disaster science, we will integrate various research departments and conduct comprehensive research on disaster risk reduction. 

    1. Research on promoting and improving multifaceted evaluation of the achievement of each goal* of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. 
    2. Research on clarifying Japan's role and international collaboration in the event of a global disaster.

  2. Conducting research into strengthening the resilience of local communities.

    1. Development of interventions to prompt disaster risk reduction awareness and behavioral change among local residents and verification of their effectiveness.
    2. Research on evacuation assistance for vulnerable people.

  3. Conducting research into ethical issues in disaster reduction practice.

    1. Research into the balance between protecting personal information and conducting research using disaster data, and the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI and protecting personal information.
    2. Research into ethical, legal and social issues that may arise with the volunteer activities and the introduction of new technologies.

  4. Developing human resources globally and locally.

    1. In collaboration with the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), we aim to promote the globalization of disaster science and provide learning opportunities for graduate students and young researchers from around the world.
    2. Interdisciplinary activities to pass on the lessons learned from the earthquake disaster.
    3. Raising awareness in the region strengthening cooperation with areas expected to experience earthquakes such as the Nankai Trough earthquake and the Tokyo metropolitan area earthquake.
    4. Education on ethical issues in disaster risk reduction practices.

Foot note

*7 global targets

  • Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020-2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.
  • Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020-2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.
  • Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
  • Substaintially reduce disaster damage to critial infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resillience by 2030. 
  • Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020. 
  • Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of the present Framework by 2030. 
  • Substantially increase the availability of and acess to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.

Access

468-1-S204 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8572, Japan
TEL +81-22-752-2407

Sendai City Subway
Get off at “Aobayama” station on the Tozai Line bound for “Yagiyama Zoological Park”.　　　 It is about 3 minutes’ walk from the “South 1” exit.

Taxi
It takes about 20 minutes from Sendai Station and costs about 2,200yen, depending on traffic and other condition.