Revisiting Disaster Education Approaches in Multicultural Communities

In recent years, as multicultural communities have continued to expand in Japan, the question of how to implement effective disaster education in communities where residents with diverse cultural backgrounds live together has become an increasingly important issue. This study examines and analyzes a disaster education practice centered on participatory disaster mapping, conducted collaboratively by Japanese residents and foreign residents in the Yoshizuka area of Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City. Drawing on findings obtained through fieldwork and interviews, the study finds that, through practices such as disaster map creation and a town-walk, dialogue around disaster-related issues not only enhanced participants’ understanding of disaster risks and preparedness measures, but also promoted multicultural understanding and the formation of interpersonal relationships among residents. Furthermore, the disaster maps co-created through this process stimulated residents’ sense of agency and responsibility toward disaster preparedness, thereby providing a foundation for sustained collaboration within the community.