#13 - Prof. Hirokazu Tatano: My Career in Research 1 (Prof. Hirokazu Tatano)

Abstract:

Professor Hirokazu Tatano is a distinguished academic at Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), where he leads the Social Systems for Disaster Risk Governance division. He earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering from Kyoto University.

Prof. Tatano's research primarily focuses on the economics of natural hazards, with significant contributions to economic consequence analysis and resilience studies related to disasters. He has developed methodologies to assess the economic impacts of natural disasters, emphasizing resilience at various levels, including individual businesses, markets, and regional economies. Notably, he coordinated analyses of the economic consequences of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake and Tsunami.

In addition to his academic roles, Prof. Tatano has held prominent positions in international organizations. Since September 2010, he has served as Vice President of the International Society of Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM Society). Furthermore, since 2015, he has been the Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (GADRI). His expertise was also recognized through his appointment to the Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in 2017.

This is the first part of a two-part interview, in which Haris and Mark speak with Prof. Hirokazu Tatano about the early stages of his career. The conversation explores his initial steps into academia, beginning with an offer from Prof. Norio Okada, his time at IIASA in Austria, and his eventual return to Kyoto University. They also delve into his research following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, offering insight into his experiences during one of Japan’s most significant disasters.

Guest: Prof. Hirokazu Tatano [Kyoto University, Japan]

Co-Hosts:

• Dr. Mark Ashley Parry [Northumbria University, United Kingdom]

• Haris Rahadianto [Lund University, Sweden]

Music: "Sunset" by Kai Engel, available at ⁠Free Music Archive⁠, licensed under CC BY 4.0.