ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines what went wrong with the Japanese disaster law during the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster to find what was missing and what needs to be introduced in order to prepare for a massive natural disaster or serious nuclear accident. It reveals that there are certain characteristics of Japanese law that had been preventing sufficient preparation and adequate response to a massive natural disaster or serious nuclear disaster. Japan is famous for its susceptibility to natural disasters, including very powerful earthquakes. Indeed, the Japanese government has made strident efforts to prepare for powerful earthquakes and tsunamis. The book outlines the legal system as it relates to natural disaster response, disaster-related insurance, earthquake preparation, and prediction systems. It also discusses many lessons learned by the Japanese government in the wake of the Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995.
