Crisis Management in Japan and the United States

Preparing to manage large-scale crises and their consequences is proving to be a relatively new, but increasingly important, avenue for U.S.-Japan cooperation. Improvements in communications, computing, and other technologies; increased trade and more integrated economic activity; and a broad U.S.-Japan political and military alliance in global affairs have contributed to general prosperity, but they have also had negative effects that could potentially outstrip the ability of a single nation to respond adequately on its own, such as more sophisticated military and terrorist threats, quick-moving information technology threats, and the fast spread of infectious diseases across borders. These facts and others argue for improved national and international crisis management efforts on the part of the United States and Japan, but particularly Japan, where a disaster could have a substantial impact not only on Japanese security, but also on U.S. security because of the critical role that Japan plays as a host to U.S. military forces.

In recent years, the United States and Japan have each undertaken a dramatic overhaul of various crisis and consequence management structures for the prevention of, and response to, natural and man-made disasters including earthquakes, terrorist attacks, critical infrastructure failures, and nuclear accidents. Precisely at this time of organizational change, the two countries have a unique opportunity to design-in new patterns of cooperation and share appropriate resources and technologies for strengthening their abilities to protect their citizens, as well as those in less developed third countries. This bi-national study by the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis (IFPA) and the Osaka School of International Public Policy (OSIPP) at Osaka University examines four case studies including the Kobe earthquake, Tokaimura nuclear accident, and the September 11 terrorist attacks, and it analyzes the changes underway in the military and civilian areas of crisis and consequence management in both countries. The study then outlines steps that policy makers can take to promote effective, efficient cooperation and make the most of the U.S.-Japan alliance.