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This study aimed to clarify public preferences for flood control measures in Japan, willingness to pay (WTP), and the main factors involved in WTP by applying the contingent valuation method. Findings showed that most residents surveyed expected some flood control measures, and revealed a diversity of interest in river management. WTP levels for different measures ranged from a mean of ¥2,887 to ¥4,861 and from a median of ¥1,000 to ¥2,000. However, WTP for additional flood risk reduction beyond initial levels was found to be zero. This was considered to be because WTP for flood risk reduction must be determined within a multi-risk context. WTP for flood control measures may increase with per capita income, individual preparedness, and/or experience with flooding, but may decrease with distance from a river, acceptability of flood risk, and provision of environmental information. Furthermore, perception of flood risk may increase WTP, while perception of other risks may decrease it. Methods of dealing with environmental risk that were proposed in the survey may have affected WTP levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how fiood risk perception and home ownership atTect residents' preparedness for floods, foeusing speeifically on the ease of the Tokai flood disaster in Nagoya City, one of Japan's biggest metropolises, in 2000. The greatest rainfall ever recorded in Nagoya City (566.5 mm) occurred on 11-12 September 2000; as a result, a local river hurst its banks and flooded the city. A survey was conducted of residents of the affected area in Nagoya City and its adjacent region. The respondents were asked to rate the extent of their experience with, anticipation of, and preparedness for floods hefore and after the lokai disaster in terms of taking special measures against Hoods. The results showed that the degree of preparedness for floods was determined hy the level of fear of floods and the amount of damage sustained during the Tokai flood, especially for homeowners. However, the residents' preparedness did not depend on their anticipation of floods. These findings show that preparedness for tloods depends on ownership of a home, fear of flooding, and the amount of damage from previous floods rather than on previous experience with and antieipation of floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]