Identifying daily life vulnerability and regional homeostasis: verbalising homeostasis landscape in regional policy for disaster areas of Tohoku, Japan

Abstract Vulnerability in disaster contexts involves two key issues: firstly, post-disaster recovery is often seen as an opportunity not only to rebuild damaged systems and restore communities to their pre-disaster state but also to improve components and conditions to create more resilient social systems. Secondly, reconstructing the environment, landscape, and infrastructure exactly as they were before the disaster often reinstates the same vulnerabilities that existed previously. From a homeostasis perspective, vulnerabilities can be categorised into two types: those resulting from inaction and the accumulation of difficulties over time, and those triggered by sudden impacts such as natural disasters. If we view vulnerabilities as part of the regional complementary process, they can serve as multi-faceted political vectors for reform. To achieve genuine recovery, it is essential to adopt homeostasis as a guiding principle for political reform, eliminating institutionalised discrimination and fostering diverse, adaptive mechanisms within regional systems.