①Based on the basic principles and in the interest of protecting the area of a prefecture, and the lives, bodies, and properties of its residents from disaster, the prefecture has the responsibility to formulate a disaster management plan concerning an area of the relevant prefecture with the cooperation of related organs and other local governments, implement the plan on the basis of laws and regulations, and at the same time, assist in the implementation of affairs or operations concerning disaster management handled by municipalities and designated local public corporations within the area, and undertake the overall coordination of the implementation.

②Organs of a prefecture must, in performing the functions under their jurisdiction, mutually cooperate so that responsibilities of the prefecture prescribed in the preceding paragraph may be fulfilled.

①Based 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.

②In 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.

③In 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.

The local governments must endeavor to mutually cooperate when necessary to fulfill their responsibilities prescribed in Article 4, paragraph (1) and paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

①In view of the importance of the roles which disaster management activities by volunteers play at the time of a disaster, the State and local governments must respect their independence and endeavor to cooperate with volunteers.

②The State must endeavor, through public relations activities, awareness-raising activities, etc., to deepen the interest in and understanding of disaster management activities by volunteers among companies and citizens, and to take the promotion of the taking of leave and other measures necessary to promote the participation of citizens in disaster management activities by volunteers.

①Based on the basic principles, designated public corporations and designated local public corporations have the responsibility to formulate disaster management plans concerning their respective operations and implement the plans on the basis of laws and regulations, and at the same time, to cooperate with the prefecture or municipality so that the State, the relevant prefecture, or the relevant municipality can smoothly formulate and implement their disaster management plans under this Act.

②Designated public corporations and designated local public corporations must contribute through their respective operations toward disaster management, in light of the fact that their operations are for the public good and interest.

①Based on the basic principles, as provided for by laws and regulations or under an area disaster management plan, public organizations, administrators of facilities important for disaster management, and other parties having responsibilities under laws and regulations for disaster management within the area of the local government must fulfill their responsibilities in good faith.

②Based on the basic principles, persons engaged in the business of supplying goods or materials or providing services necessary for emergency disaster control measures or recovery and reconstruction must endeavor to continue these business activities even in the time of a disaster and, with respect to the relevant business activities, to cooperate with the disaster management measures implemented by the State or a local government.

③Beyond what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, based on the basic principles, local residents must endeavor to take measures to store goods of daily necessities such as food and drink and to prepare for disasters by themselves and contribute to disaster management by voluntarily participating in disaster reduction drills and any other disaster management activities, and by handing down lessons learned from past disasters and any other instructive activities.

①The State and local governments must exercise care so that all measures which they will carry out will contribute to preventing disasters which harms the national land and the lives, bodies, and properties of the citizens, both directly and indirectly.

②In the interest of preventing a disaster from occurring and of preventing the spread of a disaster that has occurred, the State and local governments must particularly endeavor to carry out the following matters:

①The government must undertake legislative, fiscal, and financial measures necessary to achieve the purpose of this Act.

②The government must report to the Diet each year regarding its plans for disaster management together with the general situation of measures undertaken for disaster management, as provided for by Cabinet Order.

Handling of affairs concerning disaster management is governed by the provisions of this Act, except as otherwise provided for by other laws.