The is a
Japanese law
The law of Japan refers to the legal system in Japan, which is primarily based on legal codes and statutes, with precedents also playing an important role. Japan has a civil law legal system with six legal codes, which were greatly influenced b ...
passed on 18 October 1947. It protects disaster victims and maintains social order, including providing emergency temporary housing and daily necessities when a disaster occurs.
Following the
2001 Central Government Reform
The by the Japanese government involved the establishment of a new ministry, the merging of existing ministries and the abolition of others. This resulted in little more than a change of ministry names (with the exception of the Environment Agen ...
, the competent authority was designated as the Director-General for Disaster Prevention Policy in the
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...
. When the criteria for the law's application are met, that department coordinates with many other agencies and ministries to carry out its implementation, including the
Fire and Disaster Management Agency
The (FDMA) is an external agency attached to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Japan.
Background
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency was established through article 3 paragraph 2 of the 1948 National Government Organizat ...
, the
Ministry of Defense
A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divided ...
, the
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
The is a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government. It is commonly known as in Japan. The ministry provides services on health, labour and welfare.
It was formed with the merger of the former Ministry of Health and Welfare or and th ...
, the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
The is a Cabinet (government), cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. Its English name was Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) prior to 2004. It is housed in the 2nd Building of the Centr ...
and the
.
Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to ensure that: if a disaster occurs or is likely to occur, the State provides necessary relief as emergency measures through cooperation with
local government
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state.
Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...
s, organizations such as the
Japanese Red Cross Society
The is the Japanese affiliate of the International Red Cross.
The Imperial Family of Japan has traditionally supported the society, with the Empress as Honorary President and other imperial family members as vice presidents. Its headquarters ...
, and citizens, and promotes the protection of people who have been affected or are likely to be affected by a disaster and the preservation of social order.
Contents
The Act has five chapters and thirty-five articles, as well as a number of supplementary provisions:
*Chapter I — General Provisions (Articles 1–2)
*Chapter II — Relief (Articles 3–17)
*Chapter III — Expenses (Articles 18–30)
*Chapter IV — Miscellaneous Provisions (Article 31)
*Chapter V — Penal Provisions (Articles 32–35)
*Supplementary Provisions
References
1947 in law
Emergency management in Japan
Japanese legislation
{{Japan-law-stub