December 17, 2024
Masumi Tashiro (completed her master's degree at the Graduate School of Media and Governance in 2024), a member of the laboratory of Satoko Oki, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, has received the "Excellent Presentation Award" at the 28th Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Disaster Information Studies.
The Japan Society for Disaster Information Studies "aims to investigate and research disaster information useful for disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as how it is communicated and received, and to make proposals to society."
At the 28th Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Disaster Information Studies, held on March 16–17, 2024, Tashiro received the Excellent Presentation Award for her presentation titled "A Study of 'Evacuation Calls' in Anticipation of a Tokyo Inland Earthquake: An Analysis of 'Realistic Disaster Drills' by Announcers."
Comments from Masumi Tashiro
I am deeply honored to have received the Excellent Presentation Award at the 28th Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Disaster Information Studies. It is a great privilege to receive such a wonderful award. If a Tokyo inland earthquake were to strike at this very moment, how many people would be able to protect their own lives and the lives of their loved ones?
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, broadcasting stations have continuously improved their "evacuation calls" in emergency reporting during disasters. In the recent Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year's Day, the strong tone of announcers' calls also became a topic of discussion. However, there is an unseen reality: these calls no longer reach those who have already lost their lives in the earthquake's tremors or those who are injured and find it difficult to escape.
In this study, as part of the NHK and 6 Commercial Broadcasters' Disaster Prevention Project, we had announcers experience a "realistic disaster drill" designed by the Oki Laboratory, simulating a Tokyo inland earthquake. The results showed that even announcers with extensive experience in disaster reporting find it difficult to imagine "being a victim," as evidenced by comments like, "I had never imagined being at the center of a disaster."
If we can understand the reality of what it means to be a disaster victim, we should be able to save more lives from a Tokyo inland earthquake. I hope this research brings a new perspective to the discussion on "evacuation calls" and helps to even slightly expand the possibilities for future disaster reporting. I will also apply what I have learned during my two years in the Oki Laboratory and continue to devote myself to contributing to saving as many lives as possible from a Tokyo inland earthquake.
Source: General Affairs Section, Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office