MIC The Radio Use Website | Administrative Radio System for Disaster Use

1.Disaster Radio System

Japan has suffered many disasters, such as earthquakes, typhoons, torrential rains, and tidal waves. Recent disasters are still fresh in our minds. Examples are the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, and more recently, the eruptions of Mount Usu (March 2000) and Mount Oyama on Miyake Island (July 2000), the disastrous torrential rains of the Tokai region (October 2000), and Geiyo Earthquake (March 2001). Predictions of the possibility of a Great Tohoku Region Earthquake and an Inland Earthquake in the South Kanto Region are a cause of much concern.

In most cases, a disaster strikes without warning. When a disaster occurs, people at the stricken area are confused by the conflicting information they received from various sources. Understandably, the local population tends to panic.

It is necessary to transmit accurate disaster information to the people of a stricken area. At the same time, people outside the disaster area need prompt and accurate information on the scale of the disaster, the location and the conditions at the site. Equipped with such information, people can help people in the disaster area and work toward restoration of the area in ways that are viable.

The disaster radio systems built by the national and local governments are based on the experience gained in past disasters. The purpose of the radio systems is to secure a means to collect and transmit disaster information in the times of emergency.

The Role of the Radio Law (Enacted in June 1950) at the Time of Disaster

Securing Communications in Emergency (Article 74 in the Radio Law)
Planning Communications Routes to Secure Communications in Emergency and Training (Article 74, Paragraph 2 in the Radio Law)

Disaster Measures Basic Law (Enacted in November 1961)

The law was enacted to take overall and deliberate disaster management measures based on the experience gained in the aftermath of the devastating Ise Bay Typhoon in September 1959.
The law was revised based on the experience of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of January 1995.

Building a disaster radio system in harmony with actual conditions

Started operation of a Fire Fighting and Disaster Radio System and Disaster Administrative Radio System for prefectural and local governments (cities, towns, villages).The Fire Fighting and Disaster Radio System connects the Fire Defense Agency with prefectural governments. The Disaster Administrative Radio System connects prefectural governments with cities, towns, and villages. The momentum toward creating these two systems was the Niigata Earthquake of June 1964 and the Tokachi Earthquake of May 1968.
Started Intercommunication operations of the Disaster Radio System. Using this system, disaster prevention organizations such as the fire defense, the police, and Japan Coast Guard can exchange information mutually. The momentum toward creating this radio system was the oil spill at the industrial complex of the Mizushima Harbor in 1974.
Started operation of Disaster Administrative Radio Systems in Cities, Towns, and Villages (Broadcast and Mobile) in 1978. Up to that year, the license for broadcast radio systems and that for mobile radio systems were issued separately. As the result of this new operation, after 1978, the license for these radio systems was one license.
Started the operation of the Regional Disaster Prevention System (Multi Channel Access System) in 1988. The government started this new operation to connect local communities such as cities, towns, and villages with organizations which are closely related to the residents' daily life.
Started the operation of the Regional Satellite Communications Network in which satellites were used.

2.The Present Status of the Disaster Radio Systems

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The disaster communication networks in Japan consist of three levels. The first level is national level. The second level is prefectural local governments level, and the third level is local communities (cities, towns, and villages) level.

(1) Central Disaster Radio System

The core of the Central Disaster Radio System is the Cabinet Office. Including 26 central ministries, it consists of the appointed administrative organizations, the appointed public institutions (49 entities from such organizations as NTT, NHK, electric power companies), and disaster related organizations (9 entities including Tokyo Disaster Medical Center) in the Tachikawa Disaster Base.

(2) Fire Defense Disaster System

This system is a communication network to connect the Fire Defense Agency and all the prefectural governments in Japan. It is used for mutual communications by telephone and facsimile and for broadcast from the Fire Defense Agency.

(3) Disaster Administrative Radio Systems of the Prefectural Governments

This system is a communications network which connects prefectures and local communities (cities, towns, villages) and the disaster related organizations. The purpose of the network is to collect and transmit information. Including a system which uses satellites, the Disaster Administrative Radio System is installed in every prefecture.

(4) Disaster Administrative Radios Systems in Cities, Towns, and Villages

This system is a network in which local governments (cities, towns, and villages) collect information on disaster and communicate the collected information to the residents.

At the end of 2001, 65% of all the local governments of cities, towns, and villages (3,247) were equipped with the broadcast system, with 87% of all the local governments having the mobile system.

(5) Regional Disaster Radio System

This system is a mobile network. The purpose of the network is to secure information from isolated areas with no means of transportation or communication and to secure communications between the organizations which are closely related to the local residents such as hospitals, schools, utility companies and local governmental offices such as city offices, town halls, and village offices. As of March 1998, 8% (247) of all the local governments (cities, towns, and villages) have this system.

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