Converting Disaster Experience into a Safer Built Environment : The Case of Japan

This report reviews he way we build our cities today directly impacts the safety of future generations. Building code and regulation have proven to be cost-effective tools to promote healthy, safe sand resilient cities. Japan’s effective use of building regulations to reduce risk is a compelling success story and provides a number of relevant lessons for low- and middle-income countries. Japan has proven that effective disaster risk reduction is possible, even in the face of highly destructive disasters. Among other measures, its building regulations have played a crucial role.