Community Resilience After Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004: Extinction or Relocation?

Abstract

The present study shows the fi ndings obtained from the hearing survey conducted regarding relocation impacts and land use of relocated sites by the affected people of Chuetsu Earthquake, in 2004. The research targeted one of the affected communities named “Kotaka” which is located in Niigata Prefecture. As a result of relocation, people had a confl ict within the community as well as with the external community. There also have issues within their own family members because of quick decision-making, community leaders, rumors and misunderstandings of the governmental relocation projects, as well as different opinions between young and old. However, through events such as sports festival, replacement of community temple, traditional dance and so on, it helped bonding better within the community. Kotaka’s case study will show important factors that help to keep community identity after relocation. This way, relocation would not simply be just movement of the people (i.e. extinction) but movement of an entire community.