capacity solidified with the external transportation capacity. JTCC and the Terminal station has enough
human resources. They created the Transportation Scheme. The next challenge for the JTCC and the
Terminals during the initial response was the coordination and communication between them and local
autonomies to deliver the supplies to the people in needs.
The earthquake and tsunami caused unprecedented damage, and it destroyed the capacity of local
governments to generate damage assessment and submit the relief needs. It ruined the road network and
telecommunication measures. The people who work for the local government could not even come to
work. In the meantime, various relief suppliers and donors quickly massed their materials at the hubs and
the terminals. The difficulty of acquiring local needs combined with the mechanicsm in dealing with an
overwhelming amount and variety of supplies became an initial bottleneck to deliver supplies to the people.
3. Review of Disaster Relief Posture
a) Review of Government Policy: Strengthening Transportation Coordination Mechanism and Posture
Reviewing the coordination mechanism and posture at the Government level can be a crucial enabler.
After the disaster, the Japanese military has concluded a couple of agreements with the other government
agencies and regional authorities for providing cooperation for immediate support in times of disaster
response. The other government agency partner is also paying their effort. Currently, the Japanese Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism is trying legislation that is expected to become one of the
acts that further enhance the emergency disaster relief efficiency by enabling the Japanese military to use
civilian public facilities such as port, airport and park and civilian transportation capacity.
Having dialogs with unified action partners is also important. The Japanese military holds forums and
exercises with the other government agencies, local governments, and freight and truck company
association for strengthening the emergency relief posture.
b) Enabling External Capability
Use of exte rnal transportation capability is beneficial in disaster response. Also after this disaster, the
Japanese military once again realized the significance of the use of civilian transportation and freight
capability to complement the military transportation capacity. In 2015, the military concluded a contract
to use large ferry boats for the use in an emergency. Due to this contract, in another earthquake in March
2016, the Japanese force was able to promptly project more than 250 relief troops and approximately 80
vehicles on board to the affected area.
The transportation given by the foreign forces was another example of a use of the external capability.
During the response, the US Forces, the Australian Forces and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces worked
together to save the affected people. After the disaster, the Japanese and the US governments revised the
bilateral defense guidelines to enable both sides to exchange information to start the necessary
coordination more quickly
4. Review of Military DOTMLPF
a) Organization for Disaster Relief
Reviewing the organizational framework is important. Traditionally, the Japanese Ground Self Defense
Force did not have a centralized operational command. Ground Self-Defense Forces are regionally divided,
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