The first World Bosai Forum (WBF) was held in 2017. WBF is an international platform where diverse specialists and citizens gather to share experiences and knowledge of DRR. WBF aims at advancing the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, producing concrete solutions for disaster risk reduction in the world.

 

“World Bosai Forum 2019,” the second WBF, was held at the Sendai International Center and Tohoku University Hagi Hall from November 9 to 12, 2019. Following the pre-WBF festival on November 9, the main conference was held from November 10 to 12, including 3 keynote addresses, 47 poster presentations, and 33 flash-talk presentations, with 14 booths by industry, NGOs, etc. There were 871 registered participants in the main conference, from 38 countries and regions, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and the USA. The participating organizations included the UN, government and academic research organizations from Japan and abroad, and regional governmental bodies. The total number of participants became over 8,000, including ones who joined Sendai Bosai Mirai Forum and the Earthquake Disaster Measures Technology Expo which were held as WBF related events. The Sendai City also held a disaster area study tour.

 

From the second WBF, the WBF secretariat became independent from Tohoku University and handled the forum and administrative tasks, but the university continued playing an important role as it did in the first WBF. Tohoku University President Prof. Hideo Ohno and Executive Vice President Prof. Nobuyoshi Hara delivered greetings at important events, such as the opening ceremony and the session held by the core research cluster of disaster science of a Designated National University. Prof. Fumihiko Imamura, Director of IRIDeS, served as the chair of the WBF local organizing committee and planned “Symposium with presidents of three universities in Tohoku.” He also supported sessions held by IRIDeS and other Tohoku University members.

 

To wrap up the WBF 2019, Reid Basher, the chairperson of the WBF International Steering Committee, delivered the Chair’s Summary of the foremost topics discussed during the forum and shared his thoughts on issues that might be addressed in the next WBF. Director Imamura remarked, “the second WBF was successful, as there were many participants and the content of the sessions was fulfilling.” He added, “We hope a larger number of younger generations and business enterprises would join the next and third WBF. Our goal is for an open, global community for disaster risk reduction.”