Kanazawa University resumes Noto coastal research after earthquake damage

Kanazawa University has announced the partial reopening of its coastal research facility in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, following significant damage caused by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. After the completion of seawall restoration work in late August 2026, the facility has resumed educational and research activities, including ship-based training and classroom-based studies.

Full utilization of the facility is expected by April 2027, following planned renovations to the lodging quarters to strengthen its role as a disaster prevention and recovery hub. This reopening ends a period of restricted marine and ecosystem research that lasted approximately two years and eight months.

In a related academic context, the Japan Society for Disaster Recovery is organizing a symposium at Kanazawa University to re-examine administrative and legal responses to disasters. The discussions will focus on lessons learned from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and the subsequent heavy rains in Oku-Noto, specifically regarding the protection of victims' human rights, personal information utilization, and the evolution of disaster relief laws.