Person:
Ishiwatari, Mikio

Water & Energy Management Unit, East Asia & Pacific Region

Fields of Specialization

disaster risk management; water resources management

Departments

Water & Energy Management Unit, East Asia & Pacific Region

Last updated: January 31, 2023

Biography

Mikio Ishiwatari is Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist at the World Bank, and has been engaged in the projects of flood risk management (FRM) and disaster risk management (DRM) in East Asia and Pacific Region since 2013. He was Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank Institute, and the focal point for the “Learning from Megadisaster” project in Tokyo. The project was launched by the Government of Japan and the World Bank in October 2011. Before moving to the World Bank in 2011, Mr. Ishiwatari was Senior Advisor on Disaster Management and Water Resources Management at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He led formulation of the Japanese assistance policies of climate change adaptation and community-based DRM. Also, he led the preparation and supervision of dozens of JICA projects. He conducted post-project review on JICA’s rehabilitation projects following the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and produced “Post-project review report on rehabilitation following the Indian Ocean Tsunami from a human security perspective”; and led to produce research paper “Community-based disaster management: lessons learned from JICA projects”. He worked at various positions of DRM and water resources management at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Japan for over 15 years. He formulated and supervised national projects of FRM and highways in Iwami District as Director for Hamada River and Road Office, and was responsible for research and technology development in DRM and water resource management as Senior Deputy Director for River Technology and Information. He worked as Urban Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank. He was editor of “Special Issue: Japanese experience of disaster management, Asian Journal of Environment and Disaster Management”. He has written various articles on DRM, climate change adaptation, and peace building that were published in DRM journals and publications. He is a member of “Committee on Building Resilience to Natural Disasters” of the Japan Science Society; and experienced a member of “Advisory Council of Development Assistance in Climate Change Adaptation” of Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, a member of “Steering Committee of Water and Climate Change of Asia-Pacific Water Forum”, and other committees. He was awarded the prize “Contribution to International Cooperation” by Japan Society of Civil Engineers in 2014.

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 14

Promoting Green Growth through Water Resources Management: The Case of Republic of Korea
(2016-01-01) Wataya, Eiko; Ishiwatari, Mikio; Shin, Taesun; Kim, Daeil; Song, Jiseon; Kim, Seyi
Water security and water quality affect numerous economic sectors and areas: agriculture, energy, disaster management, and others. Countries need balanced and integrated approaches that are economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Threats related to climate change have added to the complexity, and to the importance, of water resource management. Korea’s integrated water resources management approach since the 1990s reflects the country’s “green” climate-resilient development path. The Korean Green Growth Trust Fund’s (KGGTF) 3rd “Knowledge Note”, Promoting Green Growth through Water Resources Management: the Case of Republic of Korea, outlines key responses to Korea’s water resource challenges. The report highlights the Korean Government’s “Four Major River Restoration Project (4MRRP)”, a multi-purpose, green-growth infrastructure initiative. Involving five ministries and 78 local authorities in a comprehensive and integrated approach, the Note showcases lessons from 4MRRP for other countries to learn from Korea’s experience overcoming institutional, legislative, governance, technical and financial hurdles.
Learning from Megadisasters : Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2014-06-26) Ranghieri, Federica; Ishiwatari, Mikio; Ranghieri, Federica; Ishiwatari, Mikio
The successes of Japan’s disaster risk management (DRM) system as well as the ways in which that system could be improved are reflected in the lessons drawn from the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and presented in the initial reports from the Learning from Megadisasters project. The GEJE was the first disaster ever recorded that included an earthquake, a tsunami, a nuclear power plant accident, a power supply failure, and a large-scale disruption of supply chains. Extreme disasters underscore the need for a holistic approach to DRM. Single-sector development planning cannot address the complexity of problems posed by natural hazards, let alone megadisasters, nor can such planning build resilience to threats. Faced with complex risks, Japan chose to build resilience by investing in preventative structural and nonstructural measures; nurturing a strong culture of knowledge and learning from past disasters; engaging in wise DRM regulation, legislation, and enforcement; and promoting cooperation among multiple stakeholders, between government agencies and ministries, between the private sector and the government, and among multiple levels of governance, from local to national to international. The book consolidates a set of 36 Knowledge Notes, research results of a joint study undertaken by the Government of Japan and the World Bank. These notes highlight key lessons learned in seven DRM thematic clusters—structural measures; nonstructural measures; emergency response; reconstruction planning; hazard and risk information and decision making; the economics of disaster risk, risk management, and risk financing; and recovery and relocation. Aimed at sharing Japanese cutting-edge knowledge with practitioners and decision makers, this book provides valuable guidance to other disaster-prone countries for mainstreaming DRM in their development policies and weathering their own natural disasters.
Building Performance
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-01) Narafu, Tatsuo; Ishiwatari, Mikio
The strong main shock of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) of March 11, 2011, caused little damage to buildings. Buildings designed under the current building code and those with base isolation fared well. However, seismic design guidelines for nonstructural members had not been considered adequately, which resulted in problems such as the collapse of ceiling panels. Soil liquefaction occurred in reclaimed coastal area along Tokyo Bay and riverside areas. The key lessons of the GEJE are that seismic-resistant building design prevent collapse of buildings and protects human lives, that retrofitting vulnerable buildings is essential to reduce damage, that seismic isolation functioned well, and that nonstructural building components can cause serious damage. When applying these lessons to developing countries, local technical and socioeconomic conditions should be taken into account. This report gives findings; lessons; and recommendations for developing countries.
Ensuring Protection in Response and Equity in Recovery
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-01) Saito, Yoko; Shibuya, Hironobu; Arnold, Margaret; Ishiwatari, Mikio
As in every disaster, certain groups were more vulnerable than others to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Two-thirds of those who lost their lives were over 60 years old. Response efforts to the catastrophe also affected social groups differently and reflected existing inequities, particularly with respect to women. Children, the elderly, and the disabled also have special needs, which were not always met. These vulnerable groups should also be engaged in the planning, design, and implementation of relief and recovery activities to ensure a more effective and efficient recovery, and contribute to more sustainable and resilient communities in the longer-term. This report gives immediate impact of the disaster; response and early recovery; empowering marginalized groups for long-term recovery; lessons; and recommendations for developing countries.
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2013-01) Sagara, Junko; Ishiwatari, Mikio
Social infrastructure and public utilities are critical for quick and effective disaster response and recovery. Japan's rigorous seismic reinforcement of infrastructure has greatly reduced the effort required to restore essential facilities. Identification of priority infrastructure, legislation of financial arrangements for rehabilitation, and establishment of pre-disaster plans alongside the private sector have enabled prompt emergency response operations and facilitated a quick rehabilitation. This report gives findings; lessons; and recommendations for developing countries.
Tsunami and Earthquake Warning Systems
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-09) Ishiwatari, Mikio
Warning systems can mitigate the damage caused by tsunamis and other natural events, and prevent the loss of human life and properties. Countermeasures, such as evacuations to higher ground and the stopping of trains, depend on getting the right information and disseminating it in a timely manner. Warning systems must also be aligned with community response. While Japan has developed the most sophisticated tsunami-warning system in the world, the system underestimated tsunami height on March 11 and may have misled the evacuees and increased human losses. This report gives findings; lessons; and recommendations for developing countries.
Mobilizing and Coordinating Expert Teams, Nongovernmental Organizations, Nonprofit Organizations, and Vounteers
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-09) Osa, Yukie; Sagara, Junko; Ishiwatari, Mikio
In response to the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), domestic and international assistance initiatives were launched by a large number of public and private sectors organizations; and various emergency teams were mobilized through national and international networks. The GEJE reminded us that civil society organizations play an indispensable role in disaster management. These organizations have the advantage of flexibility and speed in reaching and caring for affected communities. However, there were no coordination mechanisms in place that functioned properly on the ground. Because of the complexity of disaster response operations and the large numbers of actors involved, coordination mechanisms must be established in advance during normal times. Municipality and prefecture governments play a leading role in disaster response in Japan. However, because of the catastrophic consequences of the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis many of the local governments were unable to respond, so national agencies as well as prefectures and municipalities outside the affected region were quickly deployed. Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) is a specialized team of medical doctors, nurses, and operational coordinators trained to conduct emergency operations during the critical period, normally within 48 hours, after a large-scale disaster or accident.
Protecting Significant and Sensitive Facilities
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-09) Toyama, Masato; Sagara, Junko; Ishiwatari, Mikio
The Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) was a multi-hazard event. A massive quake triggered a series of tsunamis of unprecedented dimension, as well as the subsequent nuclear accident. Sensitive facilities need to be protected against low-probability and complex events because damage to such facilities can have a cascading effect, multiplying the destruction and leading to irreversible human, social, economic, and environmental impacts. This report gives findings; lessons; and recommendations for developing countries.
Green Belts and Coastal Risk Management
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-09) Shaw, Rajib; Noguchi, Yusuke; Ishiwatari, Mikio
For more than four centuries Japan has been developing forested green belts to mitigate coastal hazards such as sandstorms, salty winds, high tides, and tsunamis. Although Japan's green belts were severely damaged by the March 11 tsunami, they did reduce the impact of waves, and protected houses by capturing floating debris. Local governments are planning to reconstruct the green belts as a countermeasure against tsunamis. While local communities have traditionally taken charge of maintaining green belts, their role has been weakened because of changes in society brought about by economic development and urbanization. The people who lived on the dunes along the coast had suffered from sandstorms and tidal disasters that damaged their agricultural products and the pine forests protected their fields. Masamune allowed the people to sell wood from branches that were trimmed or had fallen to cover the expense of maintaining the green belt. The green belt became less important after the rapid economic growth of the 1970s, as other more effective Disaster Risk Management (DRM) measures were developed, and electricity and gas replaced wood as energy sources for people. The community's role in managing the green belt diminished, and governments took over its maintenance.
Urban Panning, Land Use Regulation, and Relocation
(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-09) Onishi, Takashi; Ishiwatari, Mikio
Reconstruction should include a range of measures to enhance safety: disaster prevention facilities, relocation of communities to higher ground, and evacuation facilities. A community should not, however, rely too heavily on any one of these as being sufficient, because the next tsunami could be even larger than the last. Communities also need to rebuild their industries and create jobs to keep their residents from moving away. The challenge is to find enough relocation sites that are on high enough ground and large enough, and to regulate land use in lowland areas. There are two tiers of local government in Japan, prefectures and local municipalities, which are responsible for disaster response and reconstruction. Municipal governments play the most important role because they are closest to the victims and the stricken areas. The prefectural governments are grappling with the broad reconstruction issues. All reconstruction plans aim at rebuilding towns and communities that are resilient to major disasters.