Peace and Reconciliation Japan Project #27482

Japan NPO Center

Project Report | Jun 6, 2025
Our opinion on Disaster Management Act amendment

By Kenji Yoshida; Kazuho Tsuchiya | Managing Director; Senior Program Coordinator

Japan is experiencing frequent and increasingly severe natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, and landslides almost every year. However, there are still many challenges in supporting those affected, and recovery often takes a long time.

In February 2025, the national government approved draft amendments to several related laws, including the Basic Act on Disaster Countermeasures and the Disaster Relief Act. Focusing on public-private partnerships (PPP), these changes aim to improve support for disaster victims by adding things like “welfare service provision” and “a registration system for organizations that help disaster victims.”

These proposed legal changes are expected to have a significant impact on how nonprofits (NPOs) in Japan operate during disasters, drawing considerable public attention. (Read our English article that explains the key aspects and potential challenges of these legal amendments.)

The Japan NPO Center (JNPOC) submitted a statement of opinion to the Cabinet Office regarding these amendments, specifically to ensure that the "registration of disaster victim support organizations" doesn't hinder NPO disaster relief activities.

JNPOC plans to continue engaging in discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, in collaboration with organizations like the Japan Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD) Network.

Statement of Opinion Regarding the Draft Amendments to the Basic Act on Disaster Management (Excerpt of Items)

Promote proactive awareness among local governments regarding public-private partnerships and support the widespread advancement of tripartite collaboration.
Ensure that the activities of organizations other than registered disaster relief organizations in disaster-affected areas are not obstructed.
Ensure that organizations other than registered disaster relief organizations are not excluded from the tripartite collaboration framework.
Emphasize dialogue between the public and private sectors in the design of the disaster relief organizations system.

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