Itsuki Nakabayashi

Socioeconomic, policy, and planning aspects of the 2004 Niigata Ken Chuetsu earthquake

The Niigata Ken Chuetsu earthquake struck a mostly rural and mountainous part of Niigata prefecture in Japan. Forty-eight people died, and 551 were severely injured. Over 100,000 people required emergency shelter, and nearly 3,500 households are living in temporary housing. The prefecture government has estimated earthquake damages at 3 trillion yen (about

被災した区分所有集合住宅に対する復興支援策 : 台湾・集集地震における被災集合住宅の再建 その1

30 billion), and at least 1,000 workers lost their jobs. The primary issues involve lack of access to rural settlements because of landslides, effects on elderly populations, and the long-term effects on the agricultural economy and lifestyle of the region. Because of extensive landsliding, many communities will also have to face difficult decisions regarding possible relocation or abandonment of their village sites. Based on the experiences of other earthquakes, it is clear that this process will take many years to resolve, and that much of the region will be permanently changed by this earthquake.

Support Measures for Reconstruction of Condominiums Damaged by Earthquakes —Comparative Study on the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995 in Japan and the 921 Chi-Chi Earthquake of 1999 in Taiwan—

This study aims to examine the scheme for restoration of condominiums damaged by the Earthquake of 1999 in Taiwan. An outline of dameges for housing, support measures for reconstruction and repair of condominiums, the application situation of support measures, and the progress of reconstruction projects are surveyed and discussed. The results are shown as follows: (1) the government attached importance to restoration of condominiums, various support measures are enforced and expanded in stages; (2) the semipublic foundation played the importance roles in supports, especially temporary loan for owners who participate in project and purchase of ownership from nonparticipants by the foundation are effective; (3) despite these wide and sufficient supports, an progress of reconstruction projects is very slow and there still remains many condominiums without being rebuilt seven years after the earthquake.

The Transformation of Regional Systems in an Information-oriented Society

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of reconstruction of condominium buildings and the associated support measures for the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995 in Japan and the 921 Chi-Chi Earthquake of 1999 in Taiwan. We found that the system and structure of support after both earthquakes were similar: the basic measures included subsidies, interest subsidies, deregulation for rebuilding, and participation of semi-public organizations. After the 921 Chi-Chi earthquake, the objectives were both rebuilding and repair, and these were supported by an extensive and multiple system involving both government and a semi-public fund, whereas after the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, the principal objective was rebuilding, and this was expedited by rapid modifications to existing systems. Despite the presence of powerful supporting mechanisms, progress in rebuilding following the 921 Chi-Chi earthquake was slower than that following the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake because of the relocation of owners and delays in the establishment of support measures. In the case of the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, the immediate arrangement of supporting measures and the time limit on demolition of damaged buildings at public expense expedited rebuilding not only of heavily damaged buildings, but also those with medium damage.