SENDAI -Towards a Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally-Friendly City

1. Date and Time:

March 6-7 (Sat. and Sun.), 2021 10:00 to 17:00

2. Venue:

Sendai International Center Exhibition Building and etc.

3. Organizer:

City of Sendai

4. Supporter:

Miyagi Prefecture, International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS) of Tohoku University

5. Event Composition:

●March 6 (Sat.), 2021
(1) Symposium

●March 7 (Sun.), 2021
(1) Presentations: 16 groups
(2) Online presentations: 6 groups
(3) Workshops: 5 groups
(4) Exhibition booths and poster presentations: 55 groups
(5) Stage programs
(6) Disaster Risk Reduction quiz rally
(7) Disaster Risk Reduction and environment related products exhibition

6. Admission Numbers

Approx. 4,300 in total for 2 days (Including online viewers)

7. Outcome Summary

The 2021 Sendai Symposium for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Future was held as a place to review the activities and records from the last 10 years, learn initiatives of reconstruction from earthquakes and tsunamis, as well as flood disasters and infectious diseases, and to consider the future of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), from the point of passing 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, on March 2021. Many citizens participated in the symposium which was held over two days for the first time.

On the first day, the symposium was held under the title “10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake: Evaluation of Reconstruction Initiatives and Vision toward the Next 10 years” that considers the evaluation and issues for initiatives of reconstruction until present, and the direction of initiatives towards the next ten years.
After the message from United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the keynote speech was conducted by Mr. YUKI Fumihiko, the Vice-Minister of Reconstruction Agency. Facilitators from IRIDeS of Tohoku University, and 14 panelists from local governments, academic institutions, private sectors and civic groups, etc. based on the following three themes of reviewing initiatives from before and after the Great East Japan Earthquake until present, discussing the directions for the future founded on experiences of devastation and reconstruction, and how we can contribute domestically and globally. Additionally, the symposium was video-streamed online at the website of the 2021 Sendai Symposium for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Future.

On the second day, local governments, academic institutions, private sectors and civic groups, etc. exhibited their booths, and conducted presentations, including ones held online, about the initiatives on how to pass down the experience and lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake. In addition, many visitors participated in stage programs and workshops for learning about DRR in an enjoyable manner.
The Closing ceremony was commenced by members of Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra string quartet with a song expressing hope toward the future. This was followed by announcements of future forward messages by high school students and university students, who have made efforts for DRR activities on a daily basis, expressed opinions about DRR and their activities until present. At the general overview by Professor IMAMURA Fumihiko, IRIDeS of Tohoku University, gave suggestions related to delivering DRR initiatives of Sendai City to the world. Lastly, the Mayor of City of Sendai announced a message on moving towards the future.

8. Aspects of the Event

●March 6 (Sat.), 2021

• 
  Mayor's speech
• 
  Keynote speech
  (online participation)
• 
  Theme sessions

●March 7 (Sun.), 2021

• 
  Presentations
• 
  Exhibition booths
• 
  Workshops
• 
  stage programs
• 
  Reconstruction panel exhibition
• 
  Closing ceremony

9. Symposium and closing ceremony reference materials, and videos

●March 6 (Sat.), 2021 Symposium

●March 7 (Sun.), 2021 Closing ceremony