Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 29 - May 12 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP Tamura demands establishment of national research institute to study volcanoes

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Tamura Tomoko on May 11 at a House of Councilors Audit Committee meeting urged the government to establish a national organization to comprehensively conduct monitoring and research activities in preparation for volcanic eruptions.

Noting that volcanic activity at Mt. Hakone is increasing, Tamura criticized the government for failing to improve countermeasures against volcanic hazards although it experienced the worst volcanic disaster in Japan’s postwar history in September last year.

The JCP lawmaker pointed out that the Meteorological Agency is conducting 24-hour remote monitoring of 47 of the 110 active volcanoes across the country with a staff of 104 and that only 17 of the 104 staff had majored in volcanology in university.

Tamura added that as the agency is incapable of carrying out a comprehensive assessment of volcanoes, it outsources geological investigations to university researchers.

Tamura went on to say that each volcano has own characteristics, and so it is essential to continuously carry out monitoring and research activities. She also said that other volcanic countries, such as Italy and Indonesia, have observatories at all active volcanoes and train experts to become specialized in the research at each mountain.


Past related article:
> JCP calls for improvement in monitoring of volcanoes [October 4, 2014]