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This study explores the relationship between residents' disaster resilience and potential household food security in the context of natural disasters. Disaster resilience capacity consists of absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and transformative capacity, while household food security is composed of food availability, accessibility, and utilization. Based on data from 539 questionnaires administered to residents in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, this study examines households' disaster resilience capacity and food security conditions. The entropy method is adopted as a quantitative assessment approach to integrate the data, and a Tobit model is constructed to detect the correlation between households' disaster resilience capacity and food security. We draw five main findings from the results. (1) Over half of the respondents do not have good food security; moreover, food accessibility is the poorest dimension, as reflected by low scores for water purification capacity and facility preparedness. (2) Most of the respondents do not have high disaster resilience capacity; their transformative capacity is the lowest, followed by absorptive and adaptive capacity. (3) There is a significant positive correlation between disaster resilience and household food security. (4) Disaster damage experience restrains residents' food utilization. (5) The elderly and senior population may be exposed to food-borne diseases because of their low food utilization. This study provides insights into the influence of disaster resilience activities on household food security before a disaster hits. The study informs the debate on the association between disaster resilience and household food security so as to aid future disaster risk reduction management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have reported nationwide changes in dental visit patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to clarify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the type of dental treatment in Japan based on trends in the frequency of dental clinic visits per month and dental expenses per month or day. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed to examine changes in data from the national database before and after the first declaration of a state of emergency. Between March and April 2020, the monthly dental expenses per patient (MDEPP) increased by approximately JPY 950 (JPY) (p < 0.001) in patients aged ≤64 years and ≥65 years. Dental expenses per treatment (DEPT) increased by approximately JPY 300–400 (p < 0.001) in both age groups. After April 2020, the slope of the regression line for DEPT significantly increased in those aged ≤64 years (p < 0.001) and in those ≥65 years (p = 0.024). The number of treatments per month (NTPM) increased after the declaration of a state of emergency. However, the decreasing trend in the regression line for NTPM was stronger in those aged ≤64 years (p < 0.001). The MDEPP, DEPT, and NTPM showed an increasing trend during the first state of emergency compared to those observed in the previous year. The proportion of patients with relatively severe disease may have increased because patients with mild disease refrained from undergoing dental examinations. These results suggest changes in the type of dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) have profoundly shaped global conflict and security landscapes throughout history. From the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the chemical attack in Halabja, these catastrophic events underscored the devastating potential of WMDs on health, humanity, ecosystems, and international stability. This study explored the immediate and long-term impacts of WMDs, analyzing historical precedents and current global conflicts to highlight ongoing risks. Emphasizing the urgent need for international disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, the study aimed to raise awareness of the humanitarian, psychological, and ecological consequences of WMD use. By examining the geopolitical hotspots and the humanitarian crises they generated, it called for proactive crisis prevention strategies and enhanced global cooperation to mitigate the catastrophic effects of WMDs and protect global security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State governance after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident created a culture of silence and tolerance surrounding radiation risk, and deliberately fueled the popular understanding that acting upon radiation-related concern was antithetical to national and regional economic recovery. Outright denial of danger by Japanese leaders, paired with loosened safety standards and limited state support for affected residents by way of guidance and compensation, led to a privatization of radiation risk management that placed responsibility for exposure reduction onto families while also constraining their action. Drawing on in-depth interviews and participant observation, this article explores how such dynamics fell most heavily on concerned mothers, who were far more likely to take on this additional realm of domestic labor and care work due to deeply ingrained norms of gendered labor and citizenship. Yet such maternal labor was not lauded as a valuable social contribution. Rather, concerned mothers found themselves in a double bind in which to care for their families through vigilant avoidance of potential risk was to betray the state. Risk mitigation came to require a significant amount of emotion work associated with not appearing overly anxious or paranoid, constantly assessing the risk perception of others, and at times suppressing concern and compromising on risk tolerance. The results of this study suggest that neoliberal models of environmental risk management, particularly in moments of high uncertainty surrounding the risk in question, can not only create internal, interpersonal, and community conflict but also exacerbate existing gender inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality globally. The National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) covers 99.9% of health insurance claim receipts by general practitioners. The purpose of this study is to investigate the nationwide number of inpatient orthopedic surgeries in Japan during the effect of state of emergency (SoE) due to COVID-19. Method: The NDB has been publicly available since 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the NDB from April 2019 to March 2022. We gathered the monthly number of all inpatient orthopedic surgeries. We also classified orthopedic surgeries into the following 11 categories by using K-codes, Japanese original surgery classification: fracture, arthroplasty, spine, arthroscopy, hardware removal, hand, infection/amputation, ligament/tendon, tumor, joint, and others. By using the average number from April to December 2019 as the reference period, we investigated the increase or decrease orthopedic surgeries during the pandemic period. Results: The NDB showed that the average number of total inpatient orthopedic surgeries during the reference period was 115,343 per month. In May 2020, monthly inpatient orthopedic surgeries decreased by 29.6% to 81,169 surgeries, accounting for 70.3% of the reference period. The second SoE in 2021 saw no change, while the third and fourth SoEs showed slight decreases compared to the reference period. Hardware removal and tumor surgeries in May 2020 decreased to 45.3% and 45.5%, respectively, while fracture surgeries had relatively small decreases. Conclusion: According to NDB, approximately 1.3 million orthopedic inpatient surgeries were performed or claimed in a year in Japan. In May 2020, the first SoE period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of inpatient orthopedic surgeries in Japan decreased by 30%. Meanwhile, the decrease was relatively small during the SoE periods in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the disease prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of Vogt–Koyanagi–Harada (VKH) disease among new patients before and after the declaration of a state of emergency (April 7, 2020) in Japan. New patients and patients with newly diagnosed VKH disease were categorized into "Before" and "After" groups based on the initial visit. The prevalence rate, sex ratio, and age of patients newly diagnosed with VKH were compared between the groups. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and recurrence rates were compared among 59 patients observed for > 12 months after receiving pulse steroid therapy. For reference, we also examined the prevalence rate of patients newly diagnosed with acute angle closure (AAC) in the Before and After groups. The prevalence rates of VKH disease among newly diagnosed patients (P < 0.05) or patients with AAC (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the After group. No significant differences in sex ratio or age of VKH disease were observed in both groups. BCVA and recurrence rates showed no significant differences. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the prevalence of VKH disease among new patients compared with that of AAC. However, the clinical features of VKH disease were unlikely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral and maxillofacial trauma is influenced by various factors, including regional characteristics and social background. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a state of emergency was declared in Japan in March 2020. In this study, we aimed to examine the dynamics of patients with oral and maxillofacial trauma over a 12-years period using interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis. Patients were examined at the Shimane University Hospital, Maxillofacial Trauma Center from April 2012 to April 2023. In addition to general patient characteristics, data regarding the type of trauma and its treatment were obtained from 1203 patients (770 men and 433 women). Group comparisons showed significant differences in age, trauma status, method of treatment, referral source, route, and injury occasion. ITS analysis indicated significant changes in combined nasal fractures, non-invasive reduction, and sports injuries (P < 0.05), suggesting COVID-19 significantly impacted oral and maxillofacial trauma dynamics. A pandemic of an infectious disease may decrease the number of minor trauma cases but increase the number of injuries from outdoor activities, resulting in no overall change in the dynamics of the number of trauma patients. Medical systems for oral and maxillofacial trauma should be in place at all times, independent of infectious disease pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies show that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the number of surgeries performed. However, data on the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and otolaryngologic surgeries according to subspecialties are lacking. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various types of otolaryngologic surgeries. Methods. We retrospectively identified patients who underwent otolaryngologic surgeries from April 2018 to February 2021 using a Japanese national inpatient database. We performed interrupted time-series analyses before and after April 2020 to evaluate the number of otolaryngologic surgeries performed. The Japanese government declared its first state of emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. We obtained data on 348,351 otolaryngologic surgeries. Interrupted time-series analysis showed a significant decrease in the number of overall otolaryngologic surgeries in April 2020 (-3619 surgeries per month; 95% confidence interval, -5555 to -1683; p < 0.001). Removal of foreign bodies and head and neck cancer surgery were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the post-COVID-19 period, the number of otolaryngologic surgeries, except for ear and upper airway surgeries, increased significantly. The number of tracheostomies and peritonsillar abscess incisions did not significantly decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a decrease in the overall number of otolaryngologic surgeries, but the trend differed among subspecialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the relationship between rainfall and runoff characteristics in mountainous areas is crucial to improving flood and sediment disaster prediction. This study investigates that relationship, focusing on meso‐scale catchments of 1–10 km2 in high‐relief mountainous regions where conventional observational data are limited. Such research requires observations in multiple adjoining watersheds due to the variability of runoff patterns in mountainous river systems. However, observations are challenging in meso‐scale catchments due to equipment loss in rivers. This study included seven observation sites with catchment areas of 0.16–9.01 km2 and relative elevations exceeding 1000 m within the Higashigochi River basin, a sub‐branch of the Oi River basin in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Water level gauges were strategically installed at each of these locations to prevent loss. Peak lag time (the time difference between the rainfall and water level peaks), which is crucial to flood hydrograph definition and disaster preparedness, was assessed. The results indicate a general trend of increasing peak lag time with larger catchment area, although spatial heterogeneity was observed at small sites. This finding aligns with prior studies in meso‐scale catchments within mountainous regions with relative elevations of 450 m or less, suggesting that in such meso‐scale catchments, larger catchment area tends to result in longer peak lag times, regardless of topographic undulation. Overall, the impact of topographic undulations on peak lag time appears surprisingly modest, indicating that catchment area plays a more significant role in determining peak lag time. The observed heterogeneity of peak lag time could be attributable to the influence of bedrock groundwater discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rainfall-induced floods represented 70% of the disasters in Japan from 1985 to 2018 and caused various health problems. To improve preparedness and preventive measures, more information is needed on the health problems caused by heavy rain. However, it has proven challenging to collect health data surrounding disasters due to various inhibiting factors such as environmental hazards and logistical constraints. In response to the Kumamoto Heavy Rain 2020, Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) used J-SPEED (Japan-Surveillance in Post Extreme Emergencies and Disasters) as a daily reporting tool, collecting patient data and sending it to an EMTCC (EMT Coordination Cell) during the response. We performed a descriptive epidemiological analysis using J-SPEED data to better understand the health problems arising from the Kumamoto Heavy Rain 2020 in Japan. Methods: During the Kumamoto Heavy Rain 2020 from July 5 to July 31, 2020, 79 EMTs used the J-SPEED form to submit daily reports to the EMTCC on the number and types of health problems they treated. We analyzed the 207 daily reports, categorizing the data by age, gender, and time period. Results: Among the 816 reported consultations, women accounted for 51% and men accounted for 49%. The majority of patients were elderly (62.1%), followed by adults (32.8%), and children (5%). The most common health issues included treatment interruption (12.4%), hypertension (12.0%), wounds (10.8%), minor trauma (9.6%), and disaster-related stress symptoms (7.4%). Consultations followed six phases during the disaster response, with the highest occurrence during the hyperacute and acute phases. Directly disaster-related events comprised 13.9% of consultations, indirectly related events comprised 52.0%, and unrelated events comprised 34.0%. As the response phases progressed, the proportions of directly and indirectly related events decreased while that of unrelated events increased. Conclusion: By harnessing data captured by J-SPEED, this research demonstrates the feasibility of collecting, quantifying, and analyzing data using a uniform format. Comparison of the present findings with those of two previous analyses of J-SPEED data from other disaster scenarios that varied in time, location, and/or disaster type showcases the potential to use analysis of past experiences to advancing knowledge on disaster medicine and disaster public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine changes in individuals' psychosocial variables (e.g., psychological distress, social isolation, and alcohol use) during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a two-year longitudinal survey was conducted at approximately one-year intervals between May 2020 and May 2022, after the first COVID-19-related state of emergency was announced in Japan. The online survey was conducted on May 11-12, 2020 (Phase 1), June 14–20, 2021 (Phase 2), and May 13–30, 2022 (Phase 3). The survey in Phase 1 was conducted during the first emergency declaration period, the survey in Phase 2 was conducted during the third emergency declaration period, and the survey in Phase 3 was conducted at a time when there was no state of emergency but many COVID-19 positive cases. Notably, 3,892 participants responded to all three surveys. In addition to psychosocial inventories often used worldwide, survey items included lifestyle and stress management indicators related to COVID-19 and various sociodemographic items including occupation (e.g., healthcare workers) or income, history of medical treatment for mental problems, severe physical illnesses, and COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 emerged in December 2019 and spread worldwide. This study aimed to clarify the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan. Methods: First, we collected the monthly numbers of HCC‐related general medical practices from January 2019 to December 2021 at liver disease‐specific medical institutions in Japan. Next, we collected individual clinical information from patients with newly diagnosed HCC during this period. Results: There was a decrease in the number of HCC‐related medical practices, including referrals, enhanced abdominal ultrasonography and radiofrequency ablation, in Japan's first state of emergency (SOE; April–May 2020) compared with 2019. Fewer patients were diagnosed with new HCC during the first SOE than before or after it. There was no difference in tumor diameter, number of tumors or Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage between patients diagnosed before the first SOE and those diagnosed during or after the first SOE. The median waiting times for treatment of patients diagnosed during and after the first SOE were 31 and 37 days, which were significantly shorter and not longer than that of patients diagnosed before the first SOE (36 days), respectively. Conclusion: The number of HCC‐related general medical practices decreased during the first SOE. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic did not lead to HCC progression by diagnostic delays or cause HCC treatment delays in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the origins of Japan's security policy after the Asia-Pacific War. During the occupation, the Japanese government decided on the maintenance of US forces in the country after the Japanese Peace Treaty. To explain the rationale behind this, existing studies emphasize the Japanese government's external security calculations. Highlighting the interaction between Japanese foreign and domestic policies, this article challenges this conventional claim by arguing that internal security calculations strongly influenced the Japanese government's decision. With the creation of the Ashida memorandum in September 1947 and the expectation that the General Headquarters (GHQ) would allow for stronger police forces, Japanese Foreign Minister Ashida Hitoshi and his staff sought to restrict the stationing of US forces in Japan only to national emergencies. As opposed to such expectation, however, GHQ's police reform significantly weakened Japan's internal security capabilities, forcing Tokyo to depend on US forces for dealing with internal communist threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, known viral diseases declined in all ages. By using the current situation as a natural experiment, this study aimed to evaluate whether the change in the incidence of Kawasaki disease (KD) during the COVID‐19 pandemic varies with age and whether a specific infectious disease mediates the occurrence of KD. Monthly number of KD patients were extracted from the nationwide inpatient database. Segmented regression analysis was conducted on the interrupted time series data. Additionally, causal mediation analysis was performed to examine the role of viral infections in the changes in the number of KD patients. After the first emergency declaration for COVID‐19 in Japan, there was an immediate decrease in the number of KD patients per 100 000 population aged between 6 months and 4 years (immediate change = −2.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.16 to −0.16) and aged 5–15 years (immediate change = −0.26; 95% CI: −0.49 to −0.04). However, no immediate change was observed in patients under 6 months of age. In the causal mediation analysis for each viral infection, it was found that the decrease in the number of patients with KD was mediated by changes in the number of patients with pharyngoconjunctival fever and infectious gastroenteritis. The current results suggest that viral infections may be one of the etiological agents for KD, while they may not be the main cause in early infancy. Specifically, we found that adenovirus infection and gastroenteritis was closely related to the onset of KD in some areas of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the context of collective efforts taken in Japan to control the spread of COVID-19, the state of emergency and social distancing have caused a negative impact on the mental health of all residents, including foreign communities in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety and its associated factors among non-Japanese residents residing in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based survey in 13 languages was conducted among non-Japanese residents living in Japan during the COVID-19 situation. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory assessed the level of anxiety–State (STAI-S) scores prorated from its six-item version. The multivariable logistic regression using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) method was performed to identify the associated factors of anxiety among participants. Results: From January to March 2021, we collected 392 responses. A total of 357 valid responses were analyzed. 54.6% of participants suffered from clinically significant anxiety (CSA). In multivariable logistic model analysis, the CSA status or the high level of anxiety was associated with three factors, including having troubles/difficulties in learning or working, decreased sleep duration, and decreased overall physical health (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests several possible risk factors of anxiety among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing the COVID-19 pandemic, including the troubles or difficulties in learning or working, the decrease in sleep duration, and the decrease in overall physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an illness that is difficult for the affected women themselves to recognize. Moreover, many mothers believe that mothers should not complain about the mental difficulties of taking care of their children. Therefore, in addition to self-evaluation for PPD, evaluation from others is also necessary. We aimed to develop a novel measure to screen for PPD based on a parent-rating scale that is administered to the parents of postpartum mothers. The 15-item maternity-monitoring scale by parents (MMSP) was designed and applied to the feasibility cohort (n = 61) and the emergency cohort (n = 55). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (threshold score of 8/9) was used to evaluate a high risk of PPD. An egogram-based index, the over-adaptation index for depression (OAID), was performed along with the EPDS and MMSP. In the feasibility cohort, MMSP was moderately correlated with EPDS. In the emergency cohort, under the circumstance of the state of emergency declaration over the coronavirus disease 2019 in Japan, application of the MMSP was delayed, resulting in the proportion of parents who overlooked PPD symptoms in their daughters increasing from 33 % to 50 %. Our findings suggest that a novel approach of parent-rated PDD screening of postpartum women is potentially possible, and the MMSP is a potential candidate for screening. Moreover, the OAID is also helpful in identifying women with hidden PPD, along with the EPDS. The performance of the MMSP should be confirmed in the parents of patients with PPD diagnosed by psychiatrists. • The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) has been the most used measurement of PPD, but required greater precision. The novel approach, parent-rating depression screening MMSP and over-adaptation index for depression OAID, are helpful to distinguish PPD. The MMSP, followed by a composite measure constructed using the EPDS and OAID, will broadly contribute to the screening of PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, disasters have become more frequent and more severe in Japan. To ensure their safety, it is essential to ensure that all impacted individuals evacuate. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the formulation of district evacuation plans and the My-Timeline have been promoted, and their importance has been recognized. In addition, information and communication technology (ICT) has rapidly developed in recent years and is being integrated into the field of disaster management. In this context, digital transformation (DX) has become essential. Given the need to enhance disaster preparedness, via DX, this study designs and develops a digital support tool using ICT to support the formulation of evacuation plans and enhance capacity building for disaster prevention among individual users. In particular, it develops functions that allow users to easily formulate a plan based on their pre-registration information and familiarize them with hazard risks. It also helps them envision the potential damage they will incur and learn the impact of their personal attribute information on their choice of evacuation action when formulating an evacuation plan. These functions were implemented as a cloud service and evaluated by users. The evaluation confirmed that the tool contributed to raising users' awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster resilience is an interdisciplinary area of study. Collaboration between humanities and sciences is important to approach issues in this area. However, science and engineering consider disaster resilience as minimizing the scientifically estimated damage induced by natural hazards. In contrast, disaster resilience studies in the social sciences tend to focus on societal vulnerability. The views between the two disciplines can lead to inconsistency or contradiction. This paper discussed this issue. To do so, the author uses the case study focusing on the effects of predictions on Nankai Trough Earthquake countermeasures in Kochi City, Japan. First, this study revealed that not only the revision of hazard prediction but the historical background of land use development affected the large-scale earthquake damage estimation in Kochi City. Second, the upward revision of hazard prediction resulted in strengthening of community disaster management. However, it also accelerated residential relocation associated with class disparities. As a result, ironically, marginalized social groups were unevenly located in predicted tsunami inundation areas. However, such issues are not considered in the existing disaster resilience scheme and policy. Based on this analysis, it is argued that communicating scientific knowledge on hazards to society alone is not enough. Considering the local context, the perspective of literacy for disaster resilience from downstream' is also important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the disaster management education programs implemented by organizations included in the Disaster Management Education Challenge Plan, a program established to support disaster management education efforts in Japan. We examined the changes in these programs and identified the current state and issues in the promotion of disaster education in Japan by classifying the contents. The study methodology involved creating data sets of the program reports submitted from fiscal year (FY) 2004 to FY2021 by organizations admitted to the Disaster Management Education Challenge Plan, and evaluating them on scales of "fundamental skills of disaster management" and "factors regarding implementing the programs." Analysis of the former found that there were few programs aimed at acquiring a scientific understanding of disasters as natural phenomena or learning about measures to prevent damage at normal times. Cluster analysis yielded eight clusters, based on which we discussed and proposed ways to implement the programs in order to improve the "fundamental skills of disaster management." Similarly, analysis of the latter identified issues with regard to program logistics, such as securing financial resources and cultivating future successors. Cluster analysis yielded five clusters, based on which we discussed and proposed ways to effectively implement the programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, the Japanese government launched the Go To Eat campaign, a policy initiative involving the distribution of vouchers to households for use at restaurants, with the aim of supporting the food service industry, which had experienced a significant decrease in sales due to the government’s ‘self-restraint request’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper uses a nonparametric method to investigate the relationship between the Go To Eat campaign and the spread of COVID-19 in Japan by examining food service expenditures, mobility, positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and the Indices of Industrial Production. The distribution of food service expenditures changed in October and November, when the campaign started, as well as in December, when the campaign ended. In addition, the distribution of mobility changed in January 2021, when a state of emergency was declared. The Go To Eat campaign was economically effective as a temporary subsidy, and it might have facilitated mobility in a way that was difficult to control for some time. As such, the indirect effect of the campaign on the rise in the number of positive PCR tests is undeniable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Many local governments, especially in Japan, disseminate multilingual disaster-related information to migrants as part of their disaster education programs to make their disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies more inclusive. However, little is known about the specific content of the information disseminated through such programs and how or why that content is selected. Using an example case of Okayama Prefecture in Japan and its principal city, Okayama City, the current study identifies the content of multilingual disaster-related information, as well as the assumptions behind its selection. To this end, the content of multilingual disaster-related information disseminated by these local governments was inductively analyzed, focusing on (1) what is and is not communicated, (2) how the government views the migrant population, and (3) their goals of information dissemination targeting migrants. As a result of conducting a qualitative content analysis on information disseminated by the Okayama local governments via information booklets and a YouTube video, it was found that the content was largely concerned with calling migrants to be proactive in taking preventive and harm reduction measures, as well as acquiring prerequisite knowledge (e.g., about disasters and their management). The underlying assumptions and expectations behind this content (e.g., how a behavioral change occurs and self-sufficiency as an expectation in disaster preparedness) are discussed, as well as issues associated with these assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]