Minamisanriku 311 Memorial Special Advisor Jin Sato Speaks at Disaster Management Training in Matsuyama, Ehime — Sharing Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake Nationwide

Jin Sato, former mayor of Minamisanriku and current special advisor to the Minamisanriku 311 Memorial (Minamisanriku Town, Motoyoshi District, Miyagi Prefecture), gave a lecture on disaster prevention and crisis management training in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.

In the lecture, based on his experience at the forefront of disaster response as mayor during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, he spoke about the events that occurred at the scene of the massive disaster, administrative decision-making, and the actions necessary to protect lives from disasters.

Minamisanriku Town suffered devastating damage to its center due to the tsunami from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and many precious lives were lost. In the lecture, he introduced the situation at that time, the progress of reconstruction, and the importance of judgment required during a disaster, incorporating his actual experiences.

Participants commented that the talk, based on real experience, served as an opportunity to think about disaster prevention as a personal matter, raising awareness for disaster prevention and mitigation.

Following this lecture, another session is scheduled in Matsuyama City later this year, with high expectations for it to be an opportunity to continue learning from the lessons of the earthquake.

Currently, as a special advisor to the Minamisanriku 311 Memorial, Mr. Sato is engaged in lecture activities to convey the memories and lessons of the earthquake nationwide. He conveys the importance of the "ability to judge and act for oneself" during disasters to local government training, corporate BCP training, and disaster prevention education in schools.