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UNDRR Liaison Office in Japan

Overview

The UNDRR liaison office in Japan works closely with the Japanese Government and other institutions that have extensive experience and expertise in disaster risk reduction (DRR) to support other partners around the world to reduce disaster risk and build resilience.

The office looks after the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments online platform so that non-governmental stakeholders can also contribute to and be recognised for their efforts in implementing the Sendai Framework. 

The office also promotes collaboration with Japan-based institutions such as government agencies, academic and research institutions, the private sector, and civil societies, facilitating their contribution to global and regional DRR efforts and linking their experiences, technology and innovation to other countries’ and regions’ needs.

Contact us

DRI-East 5F
1-5-2 Wakinohama-Kaigan-dori
Chuo-ku
Hyogo
651-0073
Kobe-City, Japan
Phone: +81 782625550
undrr-japan@un.org

News and events

Remote and in-person speakers of the Fourth World Tsunami Museum Conference 2022
Updates

Substantive discussions on youth engagement at the Fourth World Tsunami Museum Conference 2022

The Fourth World Tsunami Museum Conference (WTMC4) was held in Sendai City, Japan on the 15th of December 2022 with a focus on the role of youth and tsunami museums on the resilience of societies.
HSS Summit on WTAD 2022 final performance
Updates

Young people for resilience: the global gathering resumes

At the High School Students Summit on World Tsunami Awareness Day 2022 in Niigata, Japan, students from around the world gathered – both virtually and in person – to discuss, learn, and reaffirm their commitment to disaster risk reduction.
Community members being educated about community resilience and disaster risk reduction
Updates

Stakeholder groups make great strides in newly released Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments Report 2022

Non-governmental stakeholder groups, including the private sector and scientific organizations, have increased their commitments to DRR since 2019, according to a new report released by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
An Asian man draws a plan for the development of a sustainable city.
Updates

International Recovery Forum highlights investing in resilience before disaster strikes

On 19 January, the International Recovery Forum 2022 concluded with a strong call to prioritize preparedness for recovery and invest in resilience before a disaster strikes.
ARISE Japan 2021 symposium groupshot.png
Updates

ARISE Japan Public Symposium 2021 showcases communities that embrace DRR as a positive part of their everyday lives

ARISE Japan’s annual public symposium, titled “Creating disaster resilient communities by ‘going local’ in DRR,” was held online on 2 March 2021. The event was attended by 60 participants, over half of whom were from the wider private sector, as well as others from academia, local government, and civil society.
Impact of the 2011 he Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on Fukushima, Japan.
Features

Stories from the frontline: Japanese staff of the UN reflect on the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

This article captures the experiences and reflections of Japanese UN staff as they recall where they were and what they did ten years ago when Japan was struck by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded; the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
2020 Hamaguchi Award Ceremony on 4 November 2020 in Tokyo, Japan
Updates

Japan celebrates the achievements of pioneers in tsunami risk reduction

Ahead of this year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD) on 5 November, three winners of the 2020 Hamaguchi Award were announced by the International Promotion Committee for Tsunami/Coastal Disaster Resilience Technology.
Snapshots of the four Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments published by the U-INSPIRE chapters in Nepal, Indonesia and India
Updates

Empowering Asia-Pacific stakeholder groups to publish their Voluntary Commitments

UNDRR Asia-Pacific introduced its major stakeholder groups to the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments platform. It is an online platform that can help them gain recognition for their work, learn what others in their field are doing, and potentially connect with new partners from around the world.
Photos of U-Inspire national chapters in Nepal, India and Indonesia
Updates

National chapters from the U-INSPIRE Alliance start to log their voluntary commitments

U-INSPIRE India, Nepal, and Indonesia have become the first national chapters of an alliance of youth and young professionals to register their work in UNDRR's Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments online platform.
The SRSG with the two ministers in Japan
Updates

Japan calls for “adaptive recovery” in response to climate crisis

Following Japan’s declaration in June that climate change is a “climate crisis,” Japan’s Minister of the Environment, Mr. Shinjiro Koizumi, and the Minister of State for Disaster Management, Mr. Ryota Takeda, announced a new joined-up approach to preventing disasters and building resilience.

June 2023

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2023 Expert Forum for Producers and Users of Disaster-related Statistics

Bangkok

Publications

Cover page for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments Guideline
Documents and publications
Other

Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments: Guideline for Submission

The guideline provides information on how to use the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform.
SFVC cover
Documents and publications
Other

SFVC regional analysis for Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific Action Plan and the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments covering the Asia-Pacific Region

This regional analysis shares an overview of the voluntary commitments in the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments online platform covering Asia and Oceania and an analysis of these VCs against the Asia-Pacific Action Plan for the Sendai Framework.
Documents and publications
Reports

High School Students Summit on World Tsunami Awareness Day 2016 - Progress report on action plans from participated schools

In December 2015, a resolution jointly proposed by 142 countries including Japan on the creation of a World Tsunami Awareness Day, was adopted by consensus at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The objectives of the World Tsunami

Documents and publications

Private sector strengths applied: good practices in disaster risk reduction from Japan

This document presents a selection of fourteen case studies focusing on good practices and lessons learned by the private sector in relation to the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011. It highlights the role the private sector can play in disaster risk reduction (DRR), with a focus on the strong contributions made by private businesses across sectors, utilizing their core business strength(s).
Documents and publications

Climate and disaster resilience initiative capacity-building program

This publication reports on the analyses and outcomes of the Climate and Disaster Resilience Initiative (CDRI) Capacity-building Program participated by the following 8 cities: Chennai (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Hue (Vietnam), Kuala

Documents and publications

A guide for implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action by local stakeholders

Consultation version:

The aim of this publication is to serve as a guide for Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) implementation for local governments and stakeholders by customizing the ISDR publication “Words Into Action: A Guide to Implementing the Hyogo

Documents and publications

The development of a public private partnership framework and action plan for disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Asia

3rd Asian ministerial conference on disaster risk reduction, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2-4 December 2008:

The objective of this review commissioned by UNISDR as a follow up to the 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR (AMCDRR) is to develop a common

Documents and publications

Reducing urban risk in Asia: status report and inventory of initiatives

This thematic review report on urban risk reduction in Asia was prepared by the Asia Regional Task Force on Urban Risk Reduction (RTF-URR) in the context of progress review in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. It reviews the status of

Documents and publications

Water and disaster: High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disaster/UNSGAB

This report presents a comprehensive action plan designed to minimize the loss of life and destruction brought on by increasing numbers of water-related disasters worldwide (such as floods, droughts, tidal waves, storm surges, etc.) and also to minimize

Documents and publications

City profile: climate and disaster resilience

This study makes a comparative analysis of 15 cities in the Asian region, including some megacities, medium sized cities, and smaller cities, in their capacity to absorb stress, to manage it and recover from it. The scope of this study is limited to

DRR in Japan

The Hyogo prefecture went through a dramatic recovery process after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (the Kobe Earthquake) in January 1995, that killed more than 6,400 people. Through the experiences and lessons learned, Hyogo led research, education and international cooperation on DRR. 

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was organized by UNDRR (then ISDR) in Kobe, where more than 168 Governments adopted the “Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters” (HFA). The ten-year plan served as the main policy guidance for countries to develop policies on disaster risk reduction.

Building on this process, “The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030" was adopted as the HFA’s successor at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), held in Sendai in March 2015.