“Resilient Life Project” launched on September 1. Overcome any risk and aim for a more prosperous 100 years.

Starting Friday, September 1, 2023, ten organizations, including I-Resilience Corporation (“I-Resilience”), Tiger Corporation, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., NIPPON PAPER CRECIA Co., LTD., Hakuhodo Inc., National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, Mynavi Corporation, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.,The Yomiuri Shimbun, (Japanese syllabary order), will launch the “Resilient Life Project” on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, aiming to overcome any risks and achieve 100 years of greater prosperity.

This project aims to enhance resilience (adaptability, resilience, and the ability to learn lessons and link them to a cycle of growth and prevention) to overcome difficulties created by all kinds of risks, from natural disasters to risks originating from society and individuals, with the aim of realizing more prosperous lives.

I-Resilience will take the lead in this co-creation project between companies and research institutions, and will implement actions such as (1) continuous information dissemination in various media, (2) promotion of mutual aid communities with local governments and companies, (3) development and certification of products and services, and (4) research and development related to resilient lifestyles.

To launch the Resilient Life Project, I-Resilience advisor Haruo Hayashi (professor emeritus at Kyoto University), I-Resilience president Makoto Kobayashi, and representatives of participating corporations will speak at the 8th National Conference on Disaster Reduction held on September 17 (Sunday) under the theme of “Resilient Lifestyle: Coexisting with Risk and Prospering for 100 Years.

1. Project Background: The Need to Increase Resilience

September 1, 2023 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, which caused tremendous damage, with approximately 105,000 people dead or missing. With the Nankai Trough earthquake and an earthquake directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area predicted to occur in the future, windstorms, floods, snow and ice disasters, and landslides have become more frequent, severe, and widespread in recent years against the backdrop of climate change, and the difficulties people face in terms of damage and evacuation are expected to increase further.　In the past, Japan has only 0.25% of the world’s land area, yet it is a natural disaster-prone country*1 with 16% of the world’s total natural disaster damage. Nonetheless, the measures that individuals can take to prepare for natural disasters have not progressed, with, for example, 40.8% of respondents taking “stockpiling food and water” and 35.9% taking “securing furniture, etc.” as preparedness measures. *2

At the same time, society and our living environment are changing drastically due to changes in global conditions and rapid advances in technology. In the midst of rapid changes, there are many daily difficulties created by social risks such as network disasters and environmental pollution, as well as individual risks related to mental and physical health, career development, and so on. In addition to this, Japan’s society and living environment are undergoing major transformations as the population declines and ages, and food self-sufficiency declines. In order to realize prosperous lifestyles in Japan, it is imperative to enhance resilience to overcome the difficulties created by all kinds of risks.

*1 Cabinet Office HP *2 Order and the 5th edition of the White Book of Disaster Prevention.

2. What is Resilient Life?

It is a new lifestyle that aims to enhance “resilience” to overcome difficulties created by all kinds of risks, including risks from natural disasters, risks originating from society, and risks originating from individuals, and to realize more prosperous lives.

Even though the risks that may result from each of these disasters are different, we believe that increasing the resilience of individuals in their daily lives to overcome any difficulties will enhance self-help through increased individual awareness and mutual aid through cooperation among local governments and businesses, and will ultimately lead to a higher level of preparedness to cope with natural disasters.

3. Project Statement

4. Comments from representatives of participating companies and organizations

Haruo Hayashi, Advisor, I-Resilience Corporation / Professor Emeritus, Kyoto University

Catastrophic disasters such as the Nankai Trough Earthquake and an earthquake directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area are predicted to occur in the first half of the 21st century. Meanwhile, as Japan’s population continues to decline, self-help and mutual-help capabilities will decrease due to the aging of the population, and public assistance will also become more difficult due to the decrease in tax revenues caused by the decline in the working-age population. Under these circumstances, mutual aid, which is mutual assistance based on institutions, and self-help, which is the expansion of the quantity of market services, are promising measures to enhance resilience. In both cases, the power of the private sector and each of us is indispensable. This is where the Resilient Life Project comes in.

Makoto Kobayashi, President & CEO, I-Resilience, Inc.

I-Resilience was established with investment from the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention with the aim of protecting and further developing “lifestyles, livelihoods, and work”. In order to realize this vision, we will promote the “Resilient Life Project,” which was launched on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, together with many people, in order to enhance the resilience of consumers, organizations, and society, and create a society in which everyone can lead an affluent life.

Akiko Asami, Director, Tiger Corporation

Tiger Corporation has decided to participate in the “Resilient Life Project” because we share its vision of a lifestyle that can cope with both daily life and disasters. In order to realize this lifestyle, today We announced the Tiger Kamado, a model commemorating the 100th anniversary of our company, which can cook rice without electricity as long as it has a piece of newspaper, and are starting pre-orders on our official online site. We will continue to promote and develop resilient products like this.

Atsushi Kawatani, Manager, Business Design Office, dX Promotion Department, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. /Director, I Resilience Co.

The vision of the Resilient Life Project is consistent with Tokio Marine & Nichido’s management philosophy, which aims to contribute to the development of affluent and comfortable social life and economy by providing “safety and security”. We will contribute to the strengthening and spreading of “resilience” through insurance services and initiatives that provide security and safety to everyone.

Shoko Takatsu, Director, General Manager, Marketing Planning Division, NIPPON PAPER CRECIA Co., LTD.

In Japan, a disaster-prone country, the sanitary products we handle are a necessity for daily life, not only in everyday life but also in times of disaster. In addition, the Nippon Paper Group believes that its business model, which makes full use of sustainable wood resources, is of great significance in striking resilient disaster countermeasures. Through this project, the Nippon Paper Group hopes to provide “resilience made possible by paper” based on predictions of natural threats.

Tadashi Iseki, Executive Officer, Hakuhodo Inc.

With “sei-katsu-sha thinking” as our philosophy, we aim to create value from deep insight into sei-katsu-sha and work with our partners to solve many social issues. While many difficulties are expected due to the natural disaster risks that Japan faces and the daily risks associated with rapid changes in the times, we believe that it is our mission to pursue the enrichment of sei-katsu-sha through the penetration and establishment of a new lifestyle, the “Resilient Life”.

Kentaro Tabata, Senior Researcher, National Institute of Disaster Prevention Science and Technology

In order to protect our lives from natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and severe, it is important for each of us and our communities to acquire a solid disaster prevention capability and improve the quality of our “resilience”. Through the “Resilient Life Project,” we hope that the new lifestyle that enables people to overcome all kinds of hardships will permeate each individual, enriching their lives and ultimately enhancing the quality of resilience of society as a whole against natural disasters. The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) will also cooperate with this project as a research partner.

Tatsuya Nishi, Director, Managing Executive Officer, Mynavi Corporation　

Our company’s mission is to “Create a world where we can see the future by facing each person’s potential. We believe that bringing people the ability to overcome all kinds of risks will help lead society toward a world where the future is visible. We believe that bringing people the ability to overcome all kinds of risks will help lead society toward a “world where the future is visible. We will play a part in the “Religious Life Project” with methods and perspectives that only our company can provide.

Hiroshi Iwase, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.

Our mission is to “solve social problems and co-create a prosperous and sustainable future” and to “continue to question the future and pioneer social change”. Our research to date has shown that the key to realizing a disaster-resilient society is to encourage disaster prevention behavior that is integrated into the lifestyles of a diverse range of people. We hope that the “Resilient Life Project” will help realize this goal.

Yoko Harihara, Editor-in-Chief, Disaster Prevention Nippon, The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Yomiuri Shimbun has been focusing on businesses related to disaster prevention and mitigation. One of the pillars of this business is the operation of two websites: “Disaster Prevention Nippon,” which provides information on familiar disaster prevention topics rooted in daily life, and “Disaster Prevention Nippon+,” which focuses on disaster prevention measures taken by companies and local governments. In cooperation with the Resilient Life Project, we will further expand the contents of the website and widely convey to readers the wisdom of overcoming various risks in a “flexible” manner.

In addition to the above founding members, we will continue to actively recruit partner companies and organizations. For more information, please contact the Management Office below.

5. Special website

https://resilient-life-project.i-resilience.co.jp/

6. Management Office (for inquiries regarding this matter)

I-Resilience, Inc.
Resilient Life Project Secretariat
Email Address: rlp@i-resilience.co.jp

7. Talk Session at the National Disaster Prevention Center 2023

The Resilient Life Project will participate in the “National Disaster Reduction Plan 2023” to be held at Yokohama National University on Sunday, September 17, and will hold a 90-minute talk session on the future prospects of the project’s activities with the participating corporations. If you wish to cover the event, please contact the Management Office in advance.

Outline of the National Disaster Prevention Convention 2023

･Name: Bousai Kokutai, The 8th National Convention for the Promotion of Disaster Reduction
･Theme: “Preparing for the Next 100 Years: Learning from the Past, Linking to the Next Generation
･Organized by: Executive Committee of the National Conference for Disaster Reduction Promotion 2023 (Cabinet Office, Disaster Reduction Promotion Council, National Council for Disaster Reduction Promotion)
･Cooperation: Kanagawa Prefecture, City of Yokohama, Yokohama National University
･Date and Time: 10:00-18:00, Sunday, September 17, 2023, 10:00-15:30, Monday, September 18, 2023 (national holiday)
･Venue: Yokohama National University (HP : https://www.ynu.ac.jp/)
･Target: People who are interested in disaster prevention and who want to learn about it
･Admission: Free
･Number of participants: Approximately 12,000 on-site visitors and more than 11,000 online views are expected.
･Website https://bosai-kokutai.jp/2023/

Talk session by “Resilient Life Project

･Theme: A lifestyle of resilient living that overcomes all risks and aims for 100 years of greater prosperity.
･Date and time: Sunday, September 17, 2023, 14:30-16:00
･Venue: Lecture Room 101, 1F, Building 7, Faculty of Education, Yokohama National University