Disaster Preparedness Mindset and Values among Japanese SMEs
Event details
Join YESI for an insightful Knowledge Exchange Fellows seminar from Prof. Kazuhiro Manabe from the University of Kitakyushu, Japan.
How do small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan successfully navigate frequent natural hazards?
Drawing on recent, cutting-edge research, this seminar explores the critical factors shaping crisis preparedness in Japan. We will dive into how traditional values, tight-knit local networks, and a proactive mindset combine to create resilient business ecosystems.
Crucially, the session will translate these insights into actionable lessons, discussing their implications for UK environmental risk management and local community resilience strategies.
Key Themes
- Navigating Natural Hazards: Practical crisis management approaches from a disaster-prone nation.
- Cultural & Social Capital: The role of traditional values and local networks in business survival.
- UK Applications: How Japanese resilience models can inform and strengthen UK environmental risk and community strategies.
Who Should Attend?
This seminar is highly relevant for:
- Environmental risk managers and policy-makers
- Sustainability professionals and corporate advisors
- Researchers and students in climate resilience, disaster management, and regional development
- UK SME owners interested in community-rooted crisis planning
Prof. Kazuhiro Manabe
Prof. Kazuhiro Manabe Faculty of Regional Studies (Regional Creation), University of Kitakyushu, Japan
Prof. Kazuhiro Manabe’s work bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world regional revitalisation. Before transitioning to academia, he spent years in industry focusing on career training and development—a background that heavily informs his hands-on, practical approach to education and research.
At the University of Kitakyushu, Prof. Manabe's expertise spans Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), project-based learning, and consulting for sustainable corporate management.
His primary research focuses on climate change resilience and disaster risk. He works extensively on the ground with SMEs, helping them seamlessly integrate disaster risk prevention and sustainability practices directly into their core business strategies.