Before conducting collaborative research in Hyogo, Japan, I collaborated with Prof. Kazumi Noguchi at Kobe Women's University on a research proposal investigating the roles of local governments, non-profit organizations, and women in Japan in addressing complex and wicked issues. We chose Hyogo prefecture as the case study for our research project due to its extensive history of disaster management policy and practice, which has been developed in response to its vulnerability to natural disasters.
Hyogo prefecture is recognized for its leadership in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building and has played a critical role in shaping national disaster management policies in Japan. The prefecture has demonstrated a strong commitment to disaster preparedness and response, making it a global leader in disaster management. Therefore, examining its governance systems in dealing with disaster and COVID-19 situations, as COVID-19 can also be considered a disaster, can contribute to policy and practices in other settings.
The purpose of conducting fieldwork in Hyogo, Japan, is to gain insight into the case in real-life settings. The findings from the research can provide valuable insights into effective disaster management and COVID-19 response strategies not only for other countries but also for other settings.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the Hyogo Prefectural Government for their support in this research. Additionally, I would also like to thank Kobe Women's University for their warm hospitality. It is an honour for me to have had the opportunity to work as a visiting researcher alongside such a talented and dedicated researcher as Prof. Kazumi Noguchi at Kobe Women's University on this project.
During my visit, I had great opportunities to conduct fieldwork to gather data and achieve our research objectives, facilitated by Noguchi-sensei. We conducted in-depth interviews with key informants who represented various actors, made site visits, and carried out non-participatory observations. For instance, I visited the Great Hanshin and Awaji Earthquake and Disaster Management Institution to learn about how Hyogo dealt with disasters. We also visited several places for interviews and site visits, including Akashi Municipality, where we interviewed representatives from the Local Administration Disaster Management Division and Gender Equality Division. At Kobe International Community Center (KICC), an autonomous body of Kobe City, we explored their roles in helping foreigners and migrants during COVID-19, as well as capacity building for local people on disaster prevention. At Hyogo Prefecture Gender Equality Center (EVEN) in Kobe, we gained insights into their roles in supporting women, especially during disasters and COVID-19 situations. At Food Bank Kansai, we investigated the role of NPOs in helping vulnerable people, particularly during COVID-19 situations. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to observe the meeting of Minatojima ward, Kobe, to learn about the role of the local community in disaster management. These experiences were invaluable and could not have been gained without being there in person.

During the last week of my visit, we discussed the initial findings, which were based on the analysis and triangulation of data gathered from documents, interviews, and observations. Our study revealed that various actors, including local governments, public organizations, non-profit organizations, local communities, and academia, in Hyogo Prefecture have been working collaboratively to respond to both disasters and COVID-19 situations. This phenomenon can be conceptualized as ‘network governance,’ where "governments have become more dependent on societal actors to achieve their goals because of the increasing complexity of the challenges they face" (Klijn, 2008: 506). To effectively deal with complex issues like disasters and COVID-19 situations, no single organization/actor can work independently. Rather, it requires a network of interrelationships among actors in the development and implementation of public policy.
The findings of this collaborative research project can benefit the promotion of network governance, focusing on the roles and interrelations among various actors in disaster management policy at the local level. This research-based knowledge can be transferred into policy and practice in both Thailand and Japan. However, adopting a more human-centred design is the main point for further development.