To present a hybrid theory of disaster prevention actions and develop a common framework, this study theoretically and systematically reviewed recent research in Japan on actions from three perspectives: definition, multidisciplinarity, and multidimensionality. First, this research validated that the definition of actions on disaster prevention and reduction should be understood in three contexts: responsibility, willingness, and habituation; the diversity of terminology; and the type of measure. Second, the multidisciplinary nature of the approach affirmed that the motivations and approaches could be organized according to the axes of individual and social models and epistemic and design sciences. Third, per the multidimensional nature of theories explaining actions, the applied theories were organized based on the four perspectives: process, motivation, internal experience, and context. Furthermore, it was suggested that there are three critical perspectives: complicity in neoliberalism, invisibility of social inequalities, and bias in reporting desirable results (expert-serving bias). Taking an approach that emphasizes interdisciplinarity and multidimensionality, this study details the background of Japanese research used to employ a theoretical approach to understand individual cognition and demonstrates the need for research to understand the political, cultural, social, and economic environments that support disaster prevention behavior, noting that this is tied to the unique Japanese context of individual will and dependence on the government. This study is significant in that it provides a map for positioning one’s research and pointing the way toward future collaboration in the direction showing definition, interdisciplinarity, and multidimensionality are important components in understanding disaster prevention behavior.

This study reviewed three aspects of recent disaster research in Japan to better understand disaster prevention behavior: what it is and what areas and aspects of it are being studied. First, Japanese disaster prevention behavior can be understood in relation to “responsibility,” “will,” and “habit”; the diversity of behaviors; and the types of measures applied. Second, motivations and approaches could be amenable to organization along the axes of whether the coping subject is an individual or society and whether the science focuses on “what it is” or “what it can do.” Third, explanations of disaster prevention behaviors were found to be viewable in relation to four perspectives: process, motivation, experience, and context. Three criticisms were also found: social inequalities are less visible, many results that are preferable to the researcher are reported, and there is a risk of becoming connected to particular political policies. This study found that although many theories that explain individuals’ perceptions are used to explain their disaster prevention behavior, it is also important to understand the environment of the political, cultural, social, and economic aspects that surround the individual.