Nearly 15 years after a devastating earthquake, Japan grapples with a secondary, silent enemy: loneliness. As traditional community ties have weakened in some of the affected rural regions, many survivors have been plagued by isolation. This has spurred a socio-cultural movement among government agencies, NGOs, and community welfare groups to focus efforts on addressing the mental health effects of the disaster, particularly social isolation, to aid in full recovery.

In Japan, community and harmonious relationships hold significant value, making the effects of social isolation particularly prominent in the aftermath of a disaster. There is a growing emphasis on mental and emotional recovery, as well as physical reconstruction, in the context of disaster recovery. Moreover, as Japan's population continues to age, maintaining strong social connections for the elderly, who are often left without family support following such calamities, is of great importance.

Similar to Japan, mental health support following disasters is recognized as a critical issue in the US and EU. However, these regions are perhaps more accustomed to a discourse around individual mental health and may employ more direct interventions such as counseling and psychotherapy. In Japan, where there can still be a stigma associated with mental health services, the approach might focus more on community outreach and rebuilding social networks.