Adapting international forensic protocols to local needs: an interdisciplinary assessment of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Despite recent technological and methodological progress in the field of forensic sciences, their application is often rendered impossible in the context of humanitarian crises due to insufficient infrastructure, time and trained personnel, among other factors. Based on the account of a forensic odontologist and an interdisciplinary study combining forensic and social anthropology, this article describes the way in which the victims of the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and tsunami were managed and identified. The article exposes various challenges and issues that were encountered by professionals and non-professionals who managed the deceased. Additionally, this research highlights the importance of adjusting international forensic protocols to meet local needs, allowing affected communities to mourn their losses and reduce psychological stress for those handling the bodies. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of an interdisciplinary approach that includes social anthropological expertise at the beginning of disaster victim identification operations and humanitarian forensic action.