Braving the Elements Together: How Gender Roles Impact Disaster Survival and Management in Japan

Great wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, 1831. Modified by Elsa Segerström, 2026. 

In late summer of 2025 Japan experienced widespread floods causing several casualties. And in a weather forecast by the Japanese Weather Association published in February they predict 2026 to experience even higher rainfalls as well as prolonged rain and typhoon seasons. In a speech to the Japanese diet Japan’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi emphasises the importance of preventative work against natural disasters by improving technologies behind weather forecasts and flood warnings. However there has also been criticism and calls for women’s needs during disasters to be further addressed as women have had higher mortality rates than men in Japanese disasters. In the Hanshin earthquake in 1995 there were 1,000 more female casualties than male and in Japan’s 2011 tsunami 54 percent of the victims were women. According to Japanese traditional gender roles men are the breadwinners of the family while women are housewives, whose primary duties are taking care of the children and home. Although these gender roles are being questioned more and more today, they still have a strong hold in society. These deeply rooted patriarchal views and expectations on men and women come to the surface during disasters and can negatively affect disaster management and survival for both men and women.

“Fine! Just leave your wife and son up on the cliff!” Lisa slams the receiver on her husband after being told he won’t return home from his work as a shipcrew member tonight. Lisa’s husband is still out at sea when the flood comes, and waves taller than houses drench the little city that they live in. Lisa and her 5 year old son Sosuke barely escape the waves chasing them in their car as they make their way home. Outside their porch, a curious lost girl suddenly emerges, completely dry, from one of the waves and they take her in. When they arrive at home there is no power or water due to the storm, but the family has their own electricity generator and a water tank, something that Sosuke proudly tells his new friend. Their house is also filled with things like emergency flashlights and a radio that Lisa turns on to listen to the news. After making dinner Lisa sees that the road seems clear and decides to bring food and other necessities to the retirement home she works at despite the weather still being rough.  “I’m worried about the residents of the old folks home,” Lisa tells her son before leaving him in charge of taking care of his new friend. This is the opening of the animated Japanese movie Ponyo; A 2008 film from renowned animation company Studio Ghibli. Studio Ghibli movies often feature disasters and how humans react to them as well as breaking both industry and Japanese gender norms by featuring heroic and strong willed women and girls. In this regard Ponyo is no exception; a movie that intricately portrays feelings and reactions of men and women in the face of natural disaster. 

Women and disasters – Weak but strong

One factor attributed to women’s increased mortality during disasters is that women are socially assigned to take care of the young, elderly and the sick. In Japan some women avoid evacuation from their homes during disasters if they have small children due to concerns of the child getting lost or disturbing others at the evacuation centers. Women in evacuation centers in Japan also express being pressured to do chores traditionally assigned to women such as cooking and cleaning. Japanese women have also expressed criticism about insufficient privacy and lack of separation between men and women in evacuation centers, with unfortunate cases of men assaulting women in these centers. 

Preexisting gender norms regarding girls and women portray them as passive and helpless victims in crisis. However despite being seen as vulnerable, analysis of real disaster situations shows that women often have special skills for managing disasters as well as playing a great role in disaster preparations. As women in Japan are often in charge of the household, the responsibility of disaster preparedness usually falls on women. This includes being in charge of making sure there is emergency food and water stored in the home as well as putting together the disaster backpack, or Bosai bag, which is a common disaster preparedness item in Japan. Despite this responsibility, women usually feel undereducated about how to carry out these tasks. 

Men in disasters – Strong but weak

Research also shows that men experience unique challenges in disasters that are connected to their gender roles. During and after the Black Saturday bushfires in Australia, men displayed risky behaviours that caused them physical injuries and death. Australian research has found that expectations based on gender roles placed pressure on men to act brave and show emotional and physical strength when faced with danger. This also impacts men’s recovery from disasters and their access to necessary support systems. During and after disasters men also show signs of preassure and anxiety leading to alcohol abuse, violence and suicide. Women often suffer the consequences of men’s worsened mental state in increases in  domestic violence or other types of assault.

Men and women in disasters – Conflict and cooperation

Gender roles also impact how men and women cooperate during disasters. Usually during disaster management men and women engage in gendered cooperation where men and women’s traditionally assigned skills and tasks complement each other. For example, while men dominate roles in disaster management occupations, women carry out tasks that are more invisible such as logistics and providing food and care. 

In other cases gender roles can also negatively affect cooperation between men and women during disasters, leading to conflict and stalemates despite ultimately sharing the same goals. For example after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, some husbands refused evacuation in affected areas while their wives insisted on it. In this scenario the husbands felt that their work and thereby their gender role as breadwinners and masculinity was threatened by evacuation. The husbands highlighted that they wanted to stay and continue working in order to provide for their family and children. For women the danger of radiation meant a risk for the health of their families, especially their children. 

Cooperation beyond gender – Braving the elements together

Knowledge of how predetermined notions about gender impact disaster management and survival is an important part of disaster preparations. With natural disasters expected to occur more frequently as a result of climate change, further understanding and support is needed to deal with the differing challenges men and women in the face of disasters. Gender roles and gendered expectations affect behaviour that directly impacts people’s chance of survival as well as their ability to cooperate during disasters.

In Ponyo, when morning comes and Lisa still hasn’t returned from the retirement home, Sosuke becomes worried and decides that they should go look for her. Ponyo helps Sosuke prepare their boat while Sosuke packs a backpack with food for their journey and then they set off into the flooded world. After meeting a rescue squad led by men they find Lisa’s car by the road, empty and abandoned. “Lisa!” Sosuke calls in distress, bawling the front of his shirt into his fists. Ponyo walks up to him and sees him crying. “Water’s coming out of your eyes.” Ponyo gives Sosuke his toy boat while she carries the bucket. “Let’s look for Lisa.”

“Yes.”

Ponyo takes Sosuke’s hand and they walk onwards; braving the elements together.