Japan Enacts Law to Establish New National Disaster Management Agency

A New “Command Tower” Under the Cabinet

Operating directly under the Cabinet, the new agency is designed to function as a “command tower” for the government. While the prime minister will officially head the agency, a newly appointed minister of disaster management will provide direct oversight. The leadership structure will also include state, parliamentary vice, and administrative vice ministers. To overcome bureaucratic silos that have historically hampered disaster responses, the agency has been granted the “right to recommend” improvements to other government ministries and agencies. These organizations are legally obligated to respect the agency’s guidance. This authority is intended to enable a unified government response during crises such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions. The agency’s mandate covers all phases of disaster management, including:

• Formulating basic policies for disaster reduction.
• Planning and coordinating inter-agency responses.
• Managing restoration and long-term reconstruction efforts.
• Executing preparations during normal times.

Expanded Resources and Workforce

The new agency represents a significant scaling up of the government’s disaster-focused personnel. The staff count is set at 352, a substantial increase from the 220 employees in the current Cabinet Office division. This total reflects a nearly sixfold increase in staffing levels compared to the 59 personnel in place during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. The agency will prioritize building long-term expertise by increasing the number of directly hired employees, reducing reliance on temporary staff seconded from other ministries. Internally, the agency will be organized into four departments:

1. Large-scale disaster response, training, and human resource development.
2. Disaster reduction measures for normal times.
3. Regional responses, including victim support and disaster education.
4. Budget and public relations affairs.

Improving Evacuation Standards and Local Resilience

A primary focus of the new agency is to drastically improve living conditions for disaster victims. The agency is tasked with raising nationwide standards for evacuation shelters—often referred to as “TKB” (mobile toilets, kitchens, and cardboard beds). The agency will manage the procurement and stockpiling of these facilities and facilitate the installation of partition walls to ensure privacy for displaced residents. In densely populated urban areas, the agency plans to promote “shelter in place” strategies, encouraging residents to remain in undamaged apartment buildings to prevent evacuation centers from becoming overwhelmed.

Future Regional Expansion and Research

Looking toward long-term threats, including potential mega-earthquakes in the Nankai Trough, the Japan Trench, and the Chishima Trench, the government has planned for a decentralized presence. The law stipulates the creation of regional disaster management bureaus, with at least two locations expected to be established in fiscal year 2027 or later. These bureaus will be responsible for building support systems and promoting localized disaster reduction measures in high-risk areas. Additionally, the government intends to establish a “National Disaster Management University” dedicated to conducting research and providing training for both municipal employees and private citizens. The agency also plans to promote the “phase-free” concept—using everyday items for disaster purposes—and will work to strengthen community systems to better assist elderly and disabled residents during evacuations. Alongside the primary legislation, the Diet also enacted a bill to revise the basic law on disaster management, formally adding the securing of good living conditions for disaster victims to the law’s basic philosophy.

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