Methodological Advances in Longitudinal Life Recovery Research: Connecting the Natori Panel to Global Evidence

This study reviews methodological developments in quantitative life recovery research in Japan, focusing on longitudinal approaches developed after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Rather than conducting a systematic review, this study provides a focused methodological synthesis centered on panel studies conducted in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture. The review traces the evolution of analytical strategies from cross-sectional designs established after the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to advanced causal inference techniques, including propensity score matching, fixed-effects models, and synthetic control methods. These methodological advances enabled scholars to transcend descriptive correlations toward identifying causal mechanisms and dynamic recovery processes. The findings demonstrate that recovery disparities are driven primarily by pre-existing inequalities, that recovery follows non-linear trajectories, and that social ties and meaning-making processes play evolving roles over time. Furthermore, policy evaluations indicate that disaster case management significantly accelerates housing recovery. These findings are consistent with broader global evidence from epidemiological and social science research. By situating the Natori Panel within this wider body of knowledge, this study highlights how methodological advances contribute to the development of evidence-based disaster recovery policy.