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Background. The significance of mutual-help in communities for disaster management is a fundamental important concept. However, the current societal state does not reflect this lesson. S&G (Simulation and Gaming) has the potential to overcome the challenges faced in promoting community-based disaster management. No scientific research is currently present that reviews their achievements in Japan. Aim. This paper analyzes the current achievements of S&G in enhancing community resilience against large-scale earthquakes in Japan. Method. The paper clarifies the theoretical advantages of S&G in enhancing community resilience in coping and adaptive capacity plus proposes a conceptual contribution framework of S&G in improving community resilience. Based on this framework, the paper analyzes some major games that tackle community resilience against earthquakes in Japan. Results. The paper demonstrates the achievements through the S&G spectrum that stresses the disastrous experience with specific resilience views on one side, while decision making for critical reflection from other players with more comprehensive resilience views on the other side. Conclusion. The paper showcases the current S&G achievements in enhancing community resilience against large-scale earthquakes in Japan using the proposed framework, which can be utilized by other disaster-prone countries to develop and evaluate applications of S&G for increasing community resilience against earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports that the International Simulation and Gaming Association (ISAGA)'s 2003 postconference publication, "Gaming, Simulations, and Society: Research Scope and Perspective" is now published. Edited by Rei Shiratori, Kiyoshi Arai, and Fumitoshi Kato, the book consists of 30 selected papers from ISAGA 2003, together with the ISAGA 2003 program. During the weekend of November 6-7, 2004, the Japanese Association of Simulation and Gaming Annual Conference was held at Hitotsubashi University in Kunitachi, Japan. Organized by Toshinori Nemoto of Hitotsubashi University, the main theme of the conference was problem solving through simulation and gaming. The conference attracted many participants for a special lecture by Hiroshi Deguchi, paper presentations, and experiential sessions.

Presents updates related to computer simulations and gaming in Japan as of March 2003. Host of the 2003 International Simulation and Gaming Association conference in Chiba, Japan; Theme of the conference; List of papers and book reviews from the periodical 'Studies in Simulation and Gaming,' vol. 11, no. 2.