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GROWTH AND SHRINKAGE PRE AND POST TSUNAMI IN FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN
Rui Zhu1, Zhihan Tao1, Galen Newman1
1Texas A&M University.
Landscape Research Record
|June 8, 2022
Summary
Post-2011 tsunami relocation efforts in Fukushima show mixed results. While some areas grew, many smaller, coastal towns experienced decline, often with an aging population, highlighting the need for targeted strategies.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning and disaster recovery
- Demographic analysis
- Regional development studies
Background:
- Depopulation is a global urban issue, exacerbated by natural disasters and subsequent population migration.
- The 2011 Great Tsunami in Japan caused over 24,500 deaths and missing persons, necessitating large-scale community relocation.
- Fukushima Prefecture, already facing depopulation, was significantly impacted, serving as a case study for post-disaster urban shrinkage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of post-2011 tsunami population relocation on urban shrinkage in Fukushima Prefecture.
- To determine if relocation efforts exacerbated or mitigated depopulation trends.
- To inform future government strategies for regional prosperity and development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of population and economic trends in Fukushima municipalities post-2011.
- Assessment of demographic shifts, including age distribution, in affected areas.
- Identification of factors contributing to urban growth or decline following relocation.
Main Results:
- 30 municipalities in Fukushima experienced population and economic growth, while 12 showed decline post-2011.
- Larger, negatively affected cities and smaller towns near the inundation zone faced greater decline.
- Population increases in some post-disaster cities are driven by an aging demographic with few young people, indicating future decline.
Conclusions:
- Relocation strategies have had varied effects on urban shrinkage in Fukushima.
- Targeted interventions are crucial for the long-term development and sustainability of depopulating regions.
- Understanding demographic impacts, especially aging populations, is key to effective post-disaster recovery planning.
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