Paper short abstract:

This presentation explores the recovery from the flood events in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, within the Kyushu region of Japan in 2019 and 2021, and aims to clarify the dynamics of disaster and the practice of caring, highlighting the roles not just of humans but also of non-human entities.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation leverages Annemarie Mol's theory on the logic of choice and care, applying these frameworks to the studies of disaster recovery through a case study. It centers on a civilian disaster volunteer center, "O," launched in 2019 in Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu region of Japan. The region faced severe flooding incidents in 2019 and 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recovery re-launched after the 2021 flood.

Drawing from fieldwork and participant observation, I will underscore the criticality of fostering community autonomy and honoring personal value judgments in the face of disaster vulnerability. This approach necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the affected individuals' living conditions, necessities, and available human and technical resources, highlighting autonomy's significance. In fact, the community faced numerous challenges and adaptive trials, and this process has refined and evolved systems without presupposing optimal outcomes.

This presentation argues for the necessity of sustained, collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders—including families, professionals, volunteers, governmental entities, fellow disaster survivors, and the integrated network of technological and infrastructural supports—to ensure enduring care in disaster management. It proposes a framework that shifts from establishing a resilient society each time in the face of sporadic and intermittent disasters to caring for one capable of sustainable recovery. Also, the presentation draws upon Mol's logic of care to advocate for a model of shared responsibility that intertwines with material elements to enhance the resilience of those affected and improve the overall quality of life during the recovery phases.