Media Coverage

Article on Ultra-Dense Observation of Earthquakes without the Use of Seismometers: The Mechanism of Earthquakes in Southern Kyoto Prefecture Captured by Fiber-Optic Sensing Technology

A research group consisting of doctoral student Yuki Funabiki at the Graduate School of Science, and Prof. Masatoshi Miyazawa at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, captured an earthquake that occurred in Southern Kyoto Prefecture using data from a novel fiber-optic sensing technique called distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), demonstrating the effectiveness of next-generation earthquake observation.
For further details, refer to the full article – Estimating Focal Mechanism of Small Earthquakes Using S/P Amplitude Ratios of Distributed Acoustic Sensing Records published online in the International academic Journal Geophysical Research Letters on 3 May 2025.

International Exchange

Opening ceremony for the on-site satellite laboratory “International Laboratory for Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Prevention Studies” (iLETs) held at the National University of El Salvador

The opening ceremony for the on-site satellite laboratory “International Laboratory for Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Prevention Studies” (iLETs) was held at the National University of El Salvador on 12 may 2025. It will be positioned as a satellite laboratory of iLETs which opened at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2024, and will conduct research activities in collaboration with the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) under Disaster Prevention and Mitigation for “Compound Disaster Risk Reduction associated with Large Earthquakes and Tsunamis” ​​ implemented in Mexico and El Salvador.

Media Coverage

Article Published on Mitigating Disasters Caused by Heavy Rainfall in Urban Areas

A research group led by Kenta Irie, and Prof. Tetsuya Takemi of the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, aimed to mitigate disasters caused by heavy rain in urban areas. They revealed through computer simulations using a supercomputer that reducing the amount of heat emitted from buildings and the ground in urban areas is an effective way in controlling cumulonimbus clouds that develop rapidly in summer afternoons which can cause local heavy precipitation and flooding, particularly in urban areas.
Results of this research “Effects of modifying surface sensible heat flux on summertime local precipitation in urban areas of Osaka, Japan” were published online in the international academic journal “Theoretical and Applied Climatology” on 12 May 2025.

International Exchange

Signing of General Memorandum for Academic Cooperation and Exchange with BRGM

DPRI and BRGM (French Geological Survey) signed a General Memorandum for Academic Cooperation and Exchange. On February 26th, 2025, a signing ceremony was held with attendance of DPRI Director Tomoharu Hori and BRGM President and COE Catherine Lagneau.
DPRI and BRGM have been collaborating since 2009 on research such as seismic source rupture process, propagation and amplification characteristics of ground motions, estimation of building response, and damage estimation of lifelines. A Memorandum of Understanding was first signed in 2013 and extended in 2018, to continue a fruitful 10-year cooperation and exchange. This time, with BRGM under a new executive structure and preparing to be re-accredited as a research institution in France, the two institutes have signed a new academic exchange agreement.

International Exchange

Signing of An Agreement of Cooperation with Hazama Ando Corporation

The Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI-KU) signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Hazama Ando Corporation headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo with the aim of developing disaster prevention and mitigation technologies and using them in the field. The Agreement was signed by Mr. Kazuhiko Kuniya, Representative Director and President on 25 December 2024.
In light of changes in the social environment, such as population decline and the shift to a decarbonized society, the collaboration under this agreement aims to promote the development of technologies to deal with natural disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, and fires, and to contribute to sustainable national resilience and regional revitalization by ensuring that these technologies are effectively utilized in local and on-site areas.

International Exchange

Opening Ceremony for the On-Site Laboratory “International Research Laboratory for Earthquake and Tsunami Risk Cognition and Reduction” at the National Autonomous University of Mexico

To commemorate the launch of the Kyoto University On-Site Laboratory “International Research Laboratory for Earthquake and Tsunami Risk Cognition and Reduction”, an opening ceremony was held at the National Autonomous University of Mexico on November 29th, 2024. The establishment of the On-Site Laboratory was approved by the Kyoto University in September this year, and researchers from both sides will travel back and forth and interact with each other by utilizing the laboratories set up both at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University.

International Exchange

A Joint Statement was signed to utilize the research outcomes for Mexican disaster risk reduction policies in collaboration with the Mexican National Disaster Prevention Center

The Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University (hereinafter referred to as “DPRI”), the Mexican National Disaster Prevention Center (hereinafter referred to as CENAPRED), the Secretary of Foreign Affairs through Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as AMEXCID) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mexico office held a Joint Statement signing ceremony at CENAPRED on November 28, 2024 (Mexico time).

International Exchange

Visit by the Director-General of the Indonesian Geological Agency

A group of delegates consisting of the Director-General of the Indonesian Geological Agency visited the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Uji Campus, Kyoto, Japan on 30 September 2024. The delegation was given a warm welcome by the DPRI Director, Prof. Tomoharu Hori. The group visited the Sakurajima Volcano Observatory, DPRI, Kyoto University on 38 September 2024.
The delegation group members were: Director-General Muhammad Wafid Agung; Director Priatin Hadi Wijaya of the Volcano and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center; Legal Affairs and Cooperation Team Leader Sofie Yusmira Oktane; and Researcher and Cooperation Team Leader of the Volcano and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center Sir Hidayati.
DPRI and the Indonesian Geological Agency extended the Memorandum of Understanding for international exchange in July of this year. In this respect, Director Hori and the Director-General Agung discussed future cooperation between the two organizations.

Media Coverage

Publication of report – A Multiplex Rupture Sequence Under Complex Fault Network Due To Preceding Earthquake Swarms During the 2024 Mw 7.5 Noto Peninsula, Japan, Earthquake

At approximately 16:10 on January 1, 2024, a major earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 7.5, the “2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake” (hereinafter referred to as the “Noto Peninsula Earthquake”), occurred in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture. The maximum seismic intensity was recorded at 7, resulting in extensive damage, including many casualties. The existence of multiple active faults, mainly extending in a northeast-southwest direction, was known in the Noto Peninsula and its surrounding areas. Slow non-seismic crustal deformation and active seismic activity, thought to be related to fluid movement in the subsurface, had been observed since about three years ago.

Media Coverage

Implementation of an academic research emergency cruise vessel “Hakuho Maru” in response to the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

A press release has been issued on the joint implementation of an academic research emergency cruise vessel “Hakuho Maru” in response to the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The research is carried out by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as “JAMSTEC”), Earthquake Research Institute, the University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University A research team consisting of the University’s Faculty of Oceanography, Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Hyogo Prefectural University Graduate School of Science, and Kagoshima University Graduate School of Science and Engineering to investigate the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred on 1 January 2024.

Disaster Reports

Disaster Report on 1 January 2024 Noto Earthquake

The Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University has begun investigating the earthquake that took place in Noto Peninsular on 1 January 2024.

Agreement of Promotion of Collaboration and Coperation between the Program for The Advanced Studies of Climate Change Projection (SENTAN) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

An Agreement of Promotion of Collaboration and Cooperation was concluded on 22 March 2022 for the implementation of the “Program for The Advanced Studies of Climate Change Projection (SENTAN)”, a project funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
The purpose of this agreement is to promote cross-sectoral collaboration and cooperation within SENTAN by actively utilizing satellite data owned by JAXA and its analysis technology.

Prof. Kenji Tanaka Welcomes the Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation to the Kyoto University

Bridging academic collaboration between Japan and Uzbekistan, Prof. Kenji Tanaka and Prof. Osamu Kozan both from Kyoto University, and Associate Prof. Takanori Nagano of Kobe University, convened a meeting with the Uzbekistan’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation on 2nd of October at the Kyoto University, Japan. The meeting served as an opportunity to discuss current challenges, future plans, and potential extensions of the SATREPS BLUE project.

Completion of Agreement of Partnership between DPRI and JWA

The Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI, Kyoto University and the Japan Weather Association (JWA) signed a Comprehensive Agreement of Partnership to jointly promote research and development on the effects of climate change countermeasures. The Agreement was signed by Prof. Eiichi Nakakita, Director, DPRI, Kyoto University; and Prof. Futoshi Nagata, President, JWA at the signing ceremony held at DPRI, Kyoto University on Tuesday, 4 April 2023.

Research

Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (GADRI)

This page captures the DPRI research activities at a glance.
　GADRI WebSite Link: [　https://gadri.net　] 　One outcome was the establishment of the "Global Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (GADRI)." GADRI is a forum for sharing knowledge and promoting collaboration on topics related to disaster risk reduction and resilience to disasters.

Research

Disaster Prevention Research Institute Research launches site for "Our research activities at a glance" (Japanese only)

This page captures the DPRI research activities at a glance.
The site is easily navigated, though only in Japanese, and expressed in easy to understand words.
Come and visit us!