Page 226 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 3

STS541 Masao T. et al.
The Statistics Bureau of Japan (SBJ) has been acting in the event of natural
disasters by means of various measures. In this context, this paper introduces
the basic ideas on countermeasures for the Great East Japan Earthquake,
measures taken in the release of regular monthly statistics, compilation and
provision of statistical information to support rescue and restoration, statistical
analyses on the effects of the earthquake, and lessons learned and issues.
From the next chapter, we will introduce the efforts of the SBJ in response
to natural disasters. We will cite the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 as an
example, which is Japan’s biggest disaster in recent years and on which
countermeasures, experiences and lessons learned could be applicable to
many kinds of other natural disasters.

2. Basic Ideas on Countermeasures for the Natural Disaster
In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the SBJ took various
measures to produce and provide official statistics so that they could
contribute to the restoration and recovery after the earthquake. The basic
concepts in producing and providing the official statistics, which were adopted
by the SBJ, are as follows:
1) Monthly basic statistics should be released as far as possible.
2) Statistical surveys, which were temporarily discontinued in the disaster
area, should be promptly resumed in consideration of the actual
conditions of the disaster.
3) Statistical information that is useful for reconstruction should be provided
by utilizing existing statistics and new survey results, etc.

At the end of March 2011 after the earthquake, the SBJ was able to publish
monthly statistics almost as normal except for the widespread areas damaged
by the disaster. As it was difficult to conduct statistical surveys in the disaster-
stricken areas, which accounted for about 5% of the total population of Japan,
they were excluded from the published results. In that case, the SBJ provided
information to users about data loss including the magnitude of the
population and economy relative to the whole country. After the surveys in
the disaster-stricken areas were resumed and the results for the whole country
were published, the SBJ also released the results of retroactive figures for the
past period when incomplete results were published to ensure comparability
in time series data. In addition, prior to the publication of the results, the SBJ
made known the plan in advance about such special handling.
Also, to support recovery and reconstruction operations, the SBJ promptly
provided statistical maps of small area statistics based on the 2009 Economic
Census for Business Frame and the 2010 Population Census to local
governments in the affected areas and also posted them on the SBJ website.
In addition, in conjunction with publication of the monthly statistical survey

215 |I S I W S C 2 0 1 9