The Effectiveness of Decentralization in Japan: Crisis Response as a Model

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of decentralization in Japan by examining the nature of its response to crises. Two catastrophic events were selected: the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and the 2019 COVID-19 pandemic. The nature of their response to the catastrophic effects was analyzed. he analysis was based on three key dimensions of decentralization that served as a framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the response...": extensive decentralization in favor of local governments; central leadership in local governments; and horizontal relationships between local governments. Through these dimensions, the practical nature of their responses during disasters was analyzed. The results indicated that, although local governments enjoy extensive autonomy in their response, this advantage was not linked to the response of the central government. Horizontal communication between local governments also faltered, indicating the existence of numerous gaps in the balance between all levels of government. This opens the door to discussion about the extent of maturity reached by the decentralization experience in Japan and the possibility of avoiding these gaps in the future if it faces crises similar to those proposed.