Development of SASKE-NABLE: A Simulation Game Utilizing Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Abstract

After the Great East Japan earthquake, disaster management measures put priority on constructing large-scale evacuation centers in Fukushima, including the BIG PALETTE FUKUSHIMA. The unpredictable and widespread calamity made staffs of the evacuation center run into difficulty in assisting evacuees. Due to the national standard of the evacuation center's operation, the staffs were trained to comply with management manuals that were, to some extent, not applicable and responsive to evacuees' needs. Hence, the use of individual expertise and collective experiences in emergency management played an important role to keep the evacuation center functioning efficiently and effectively. The lesson learned from evacuation-center management was translated to the design of "SASKE-NABLE," a simulation game based on decision-making principles. With the concern on happiness of evacuees, this simulation game aimed at making stakeholders, who would be involved in evacuation-center management, understand a social dilemma often happening in operating evacuation centers while highlighting a significance of flexible management based on staff's life experience. Results from utilizing this game with the participants suggested that SASKE-NABLE could cultivate participants' awareness on evacuation-center management, reflect on the essential roles of each participant in the management, and facilitate the collective decision-making process in order to produce solutions that may prompt action. As a result, this game can be regarded as a training-for-trainer tool.