Assessing the potential of mosques for disaster response in Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Inclusive disaster responses that embrace cultural, linguistic, and religious minorities have become increasingly important. In Japan, Muslim communities centered around mosques support affected individuals, including these minority groups. Although previous studies have mainly reported their actual response activities during past disasters, limited attention has been paid to assessing their potential for future disaster response. This study aims to evaluate the potential of mosques for disaster response in Japan. Focusing on 18 mosques in Tokyo, the assessment was conducted from the perspectives of natural hazard exposure and social and physical capital. Hazard exposure was assessed using mosque location data and an official hazard map, and social and physical capital were examined through structured interviews with mosque representatives. The results showed that exposure to hazards such as landslides, tsunamis, and storm surges is negligible, indicating that response potential depends primarily on each mosque's social and physical capital. In contrast, for hazards such as floods (both planned and probable maximum levels) and liquefaction, response potential depends on both the degree of hazard exposure and the level of social and physical capital. Specifically, mosques with lower hazard exposure tended to possess higher levels of social and physical capital, and vice versa. These results indicate disparities in their potential to respond to specific hazards. The findings provide guidance for strengthening collaboration between mosques and other stakeholders and for enhancing mosque disaster response potential, for example, by improving specific types of social capital, thereby contributing to more inclusive, community-based disaster risk reduction.