Based on the basic principles and in the interest of protecting the area of a municipality, and the lives, bodies, and properties of its residents from disaster, as a local government at the base level, the municipality has the responsibility to formulate a disaster management plan concerning the area of the relevant municipality with the cooperation of related organs and other local governments, and implement the plan on the basis of laws and regulations.
In order to fulfill responsibilities under the preceding paragraph, the mayor of the municipality must endeavor to sufficiently employ all capabilities of the municipality, by keeping the organization of fire-fighting organs, flood prevention units, etc., in good condition, by enhancing organizations related to disaster management, voluntary disaster management organizations, and other public groups within the area of the municipality, and by promoting voluntary disaster management activities among the residents.
In performing the functions under their jurisdiction, fire-fighting organs, flood prevention units, and other organs of the municipality must mutually cooperate in order that the responsibilities of the municipality prescribed in paragraph (1) can be fulfilled.
消防機関、水防団その他市町村の機関は、その所掌事務を遂行するにあたつては、第一項に規定する市町村の責務が十分に果たされることとなるように、相互に協力しなければならない。
Read this with the articles around it
disastermachine translation
「災害」
Damage caused by a storm, tornado, heavy rain or snow, flood, slope failure, debris flow, storm surge, earthquake, tsunami, soil liquefaction, volcanic eruption, landslide or other abnormal natural phenomenon, or by a large fire or explosion or another cause that a Cabinet Order (政令) specifies as causing damage on a similar scale.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies throughout the law
disaster managementmachine translation
「防災」
Preventing disasters before they happen, stopping the damage from spreading once one strikes, and recovering from a disaster and rebuilding after it.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ii)· applies throughout the law
voluntary disaster management organizationmachine translation
「自主防災組織」
A disaster management organization that residents form of their own accord, in a spirit of neighbourly mutual cooperation.
Defined inArticle 2-2, paragraph (1), item (ii)
basic principles
「基本理念」
The basic principles of disaster management set out in Article 2-2, among them always assuming that a disaster may happen and keeping its damage as small as possible, sharing roles among the State, local governments and residents, giving top priority to protecting people's lives and bodies, supporting disaster victims according to their circumstances, and preparing for recovery and reconstruction.
Short name set inArticle 3, paragraph (1)