The development of emergency food studies in Japan : insights from the Great Kantō Earthquake

This paper organizes research on emergency food supplies in Japan from four perspectives—institutions, policy, logistics, and food culture—and examines its development and challenges from an economic history perspective. It reviews research papers using the Great Kanto Earthquake as a case study, focusing on the institutionalization of emergency food supplies, the shift from military to civilian use, the disruption and reorganization of logistics networks, and changes in urban food culture. This paper positions itself as a historical framework for understanding the restructuring of economic and social systems surrounding disasters and food, based on a review of existing research.