Reflective Planning and Design for Community Resilience: A Case Study in a Vulnerable and Shrinking Japanese Village

Abstract

This study investigates resilience strategies in rural Japanese areas characterized by population decline, demographic aging, and heightened disaster risk. I particularly examine the approach of relocating communities to safer, higher ground in regions prone to tsunamis. The focus is on Omosu Village in Numazu City, Japan, which was the first community to attempt relocation through the Disaster Prevention Collective Relocation Promotion Project (DPCRPP) in preparation for the anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake and tsunami, expected to occur within the next 20 years with a high probability. The methodology involved developing planning and design proposals, presenting these to officials in Numazu City for feedback, and revising the proposals accordingly, embodying a reflective practice approach. Due to the sensitivity of the subject, direct discussions with residents were not possible; instead, I analyzed recorded materials from a 2012-2013 workshop on hill relocation and responses from 106 residents to a post-workshop questionnaire to gather insights and integrate them into my planning and design.

The findings highlight a disconnect between areas supported by Japan’s Location Optimization Plan (LOP) and Small Hub Development (SHD), which complicates relocation efforts for villages like Omosu, situated in these policy gaps. This study offers policy-related recommendations for addressing the challenges faced by shrinking settlements caught in these gaps and demonstrates the potential of village design to incorporate long-term planning over the next two decades, addressing both disaster prevention and everyday livelihood sustainability. The results underscore the viability of previously considered impossible relocations to higher ground and outline the necessary steps to accomplish this. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of a holistic planning and design approach that safeguards residents’ lives and invigorates community spirit in rural villages enriched with natural resources and cultural heritage.