Background to the Enactment Based on the experience of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which hit in January 1995 and caused the worst damage of the post-war era, the Earthquake Disaster Prevention Special Act (Law No. 111, 1995) was submitted to the Diet by members of the Diet (Masaharu (Gotoda, the chairman, the Association of Members of the Diet to Protect Japan from Earthquakes, and others), and it passed the Diet. The Act was published in June 16, 1995 and took effect on July 18 of that year. The Act intends among others quick improvement of the nation-wide facilities for earthquake disaster prevention and promotion of the surveillance and research system which will directly help implementation of the administrative measures to reinforce the comprehensive earthquake disaster prevention measures.
2. Outline of the Act
A. Drawing up the Five-Year Plan of Emergency Projects for Earthquake Disaster Prevention
a. Considering among other things the social and natural conditions of the areas in which an earthquake would cause tremendous damage, the Governors are to make a Five-Year Plan of Emergency Projects for Earthquake Disaster Prevention beginning in fiscal 1996, concerning the facilities which are provided in the Prefectural Local Plan for Disaster Prevention as facilities which need to be improved immediately to prevent earthquake disaster.
b. In drawing up the plan the Governors must listen to the
