The role of social infrastructure in community-based disaster resilience: A case study of the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake

This study presents an empirical analysis of how Japan’s Kominkan community learning centres functioned as vital social infrastructure during and after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, which caused 636 deaths and extensive damage across Ishikawa Prefecture. Drawing on field visits to five Kominkan in Noto Town and documentary evidence, it examines how pre-disaster preparedness activities (evacuation drills, disaster-themed cultural events, and community training) directly shaped emergency response and early recovery outcomes. The study highlights the mechanisms through which Kominkan strengthened disaster resilience, including the mobilisation of social capital, embedded local leadership, and the multi-functional use of facilities as shelters, coordination hubs, and spaces for social reconnection.

The authors recommend reinforcing investment in social infrastructure, formalising the role of community facilities in disaster management plans, and embedding preparedness activities into routine cultural and educational programming. The study underscores the value of equipping centres with resilient utilities, supporting local leadership, and integrating community-based facilities into wider DRR strategies to strengthen autonomous response capacity and accelerate recovery.