The Transition of Crime Situations in Disaster-Affected Areas: A Comparative Study of Five Disaster-Stricken Regions in Japan

• In Event: EHC-WG Panel 2: Memories, Attitudes and Comparative Perspectives in Historical Criminology

Abstract

This study analyzes how crime trends and countermeasures in disaster-affected areas have evolved. By comparing major disasters over the past 100 years, from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake of 2024, we examine the historical crime transition in disaster-stricken areas. Furthermore, we consider how law enforcement agencies, including the police, have responded to these crimes and how their roles have changed, particularly in an increasingly digitalized society.
Japan is a country frequently affected by natural disasters. In media coverage of disaster-affected areas, reports have traditionally emphasized the calm and orderly response of victims. However, there has been growing concern about crime in disaster-stricken regions in recent years. While the number of reported crimes has been decreasing due to the long-term impact of population decline, crime incidents in disaster-affected areas have increased alarmingly.
Over the past seven years, Japan has made significant progress in opening crime data to the public and accelerating criminological research. This period also witnessed the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought significant changes to crime patterns. Additionally, the rapid advancement of the internet and social media has led to new forms of crime, allowing offenders to exploit disasters in unprecedented ways. In disaster-stricken regions, where social structures are temporarily disrupted, criminals have adapted flexibly, taking advantage of these societal shifts to prey on victims’ vulnerabilities and maximize illicit gains.
This study aims to elucidate how modern technological advancements and societal changes influence criminal behavior in disaster-affected areas and how crime prevention strategies must adapt accordingly.

Author

• Anna Matsukawa, University of Hyogo