Kamaishi face aux crises pluridimensionnelles d’après-guerre. Catastrophes, restructuration industrielle et décroissance démographique

Abstract

The local communities of modern Japan are faced with multidimensional crises: chronic crises, such as population decline; gradual crises, like the decline of basic industries; and sudden crises, like natural disasters and war damage. This stratification renders both regional responses and the implementation of measures inappropriate. This research focuses on the city of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture, and aims to examine the history of these different crises to foreground their multi-layer structure. In doing so, we have demonstrated how, since the mid-20th century, residents have been confronted with multidimensional crises, and have responded by drawing on “engineering” and “DIY” politics.

Keywords

• Local Crisis
• Kamaishi Disaster
• Industrial Reconstruction
• Population Decline
• DIY politics