According to the Emergency Events Database of the Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), one of the most comprehensive global disaster databases, 16,134 disasters were reported worldwide over the 24-year period from 2000 to 2024. These disasters claimed the lives of more than 1.6 million people and affected over 4.6 billion individuals. The impact of a disaster varies depending on multiple factors, including its type, location, and the political, economic, technological, and cultural background of the affected community. As many disasters intensify and interact in increasingly complex ways, the need for an integrated and multifaceted approach to risk mitigation and decision-making strategies continues to grow.

Japan, owing to its geographical situation on the Pacific Ring of Fire, has experienced numerous devastating earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and torrential rains. Notably, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995, which was the largest earthquake disaster of the post-World War II era at that time, sent shock waves throughout the world. As of January 2024, Japan has experienced 178 earthquakes with human casualties since 1996. The most devastating of these include the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture Earthquake, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, and the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. On January 1, 2024, a significant earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, and reconstruction efforts are ongoing.

Beyond earthquakes, disasters such as the 2018 Western Japan Heavy Rain and the 2019 Typhoon Hagibis (Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon) resulted in significant casualties due to river flooding and landslides. Furthermore, on September 21, 2024, heavy rains struck the Noto region, which was still recovering from the earthquake. Meanwhile, the global COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in 2019 not only caused numerous deaths but also dramatically altered lifestyles worldwide.

As time passes since these disasters, various reconstruction processes and phases are observable across Japan. Kobe has already completed its recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, providing a long-term validation of "Build Back Better" efforts. In the Tohoku region, which suffered immense damage from the Great East Japan Earthquake and where reconstruction is still ongoing in some areas, retrospective analyses of the reconstruction process and discussions on future policies continue.

This program offers participants the opportunity to study past disasters and subsequent reconstruction processes while experiencing the creation of business ideas aimed at achieving a resilient society. Through this, the program seeks to foster individuals capable of generating creative value and realizing sustainable businesses.

This program was implemented as part of the JST START University Ecosystem Promotion Type (Supporting Creation of Startup Ecosystem in Startup Cities) and received support from the MIRAI (Multidisciplinary Integration for Resilience and Innovation) Alliance of Kobe University.