Yasutomi Makoto

Born in Kobe in 1956. Professor of contemporary social studies (disaster information, disaster reporting, disaster volunteering) in Kobe Gakuin University’s Department of Social Studies of Disaster Management, the only disaster management faculty in Japan, since its founding in April 2014. Joined the Yomiuri Shimbun Osaka Head Office in 1979, and was serving at the Hanshin area local news desk when the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck in January 1995. Was researcher for one year from 2005 at Kobe’s Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution. Member of Yomiuri Shimbun head office editorial board since 2006. Secretary general and director of the Japan Society for Social Service and advisor for the Sanda Disaster Management Leader’s Association. Board chair of the Japan Shelter Support Organization.