Reconstructing Kobe: The Geography Of Crisis And Opportunity Project Muse Upcc Books

The Hanshin Earthquake was the largest disaster to affect postwar Japan and one of the most destructive postwar natural disasters to strike a developed country. Although the media focused on the disaster’s immediate effects, the long-term reconstruction efforts have gone largely unexplored. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, David Edgington records the first ten years of reconstruction and recovery and asks whether planners successfully exploited opportunities to make a more sustainable and disaster-proof city. This book is an intricate investigation of one of the largest redevelopment projects in recent memory. Six Thousand People Died And Hundreds Of Thousands Lost Their Homes When The Great Hanshin Earthquake Hit Kobe In January 1995. It Was The Largest Disaster To Affect Postwar Japan And One Of The Most Destructive Postwar Natural Disasters To Strike A Developed Country. Although The Media Focused On The Disaster's Immediate Effects, The Long-term Reconstruction Efforts Have Gone Largely Unexplored. Drawing On Fieldwork And Interviews With Planners, Activists, And Bureaucrats, David Edgington Records The First Ten Years Of Reconstruction And Recovery Efforts And Offers Detailed Descriptions Of The Geography Of Crisis And Opportunity. Which Districts Were Most Vulnerable To Quake And Why? Did Policy Makers And Planners Exploit Opportunities To Revitalize The City And Make It More Sustainable And Disaster Proof? Edgington's Intricate Investigation Of Japanese Urban Policy, Local Governance, And Land Use In Stricken Neighbourhoods Reveals That Japan's Particular Style Of Urban Redevelopment Hindered Rather Than Hastened Its Ability To Rebuild A Devastated City. An Absorbing Account Of The Largest Urban-planning Redevelopment Effort In Japanese History And The Disaster That Caused It, Reconstructing Kobe Offers Real-world Solutions To Urban Planners And Policy Makers And Is Essential Reading For Students And Scholars Of Japanese Urban And Planning History. Introduction -- Earthquakes And Urban Reconstruction -- Kobe And The Hanshin Earthquake -- The Planning And Reconstruction Response -- Protest, Participation, And The Phoenix Plan -- Neighbourhood Case Studies -- Symbolic Projects And The Local Economy -- Conclusion -- Appendices. Chronology Of The Ten-year Reconstruction Period In Kobe (1995-2005) ; National Government Relief And Recovery Measures ; Major Reconstruction Actions Taken By Local Government In 1995. David W. Edgington. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Six thousand people died and hundreds of thousands lost their homes when an earthquake hit Kobe in January 1995. The Hanshin Earthquake was the largest disaster to affect postwar Japan and one of the most destructive postwar natural disasters to strike a developed country. Although the media focused on the disaster's immediate effects, the long-term reconstruction efforts have gone largely unexplored. Based on fieldwork and interviews with planners, activists, and bureaucrats, Reconstructing Kobe records the first ten years of reconstruction and recovery and offers detailed descriptions of the geography of crisis and opportunity. Which districts were most vulnerable to the quake and why? Did planners successfully exploit opportunities to revitalize the city and make it more sustainable and disaster proof? David Edgington's intricate investigation of one of the largest redevelopments in recent history offers a compelling post-disaster case study for planners and policy makers and is essential reading for students and scholars of Japanese urban and planning history. Contents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Glossary of Japanese Terms 1 Introduction 2 Earthquakes and Urban Reconstruction 3 Kobe and the Hanshin Earthquake 4 The Planning and Reconstruction Response 5 Protest, Participation, and the Phoenix Plan 6 Neighbourhood Case Studies 7 Symbolic Projects and the Local Economy 8 Conclusion Appendix A: Chronology of the Ten-Year Reconstruction Period in Kobe (1995-2005) Appendix B: National Government Relief and Recovery Measures, 1995 Appendix C: Major Reconstruction Actions Taken by Local Government in 1995 Notes References Index Explores the decade-long challenge to reconstruct Kobe after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995.