The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of the use of new and traditional media in post-disaster recovery after the Great East Japan Earthquake using data collected from the disaster area in March 2013. This study found that the use of both new (Web 2.0 applications) and traditional (informative television programmes) media can create some positive but indirect effects on the development of social capital elements that are critical for post-disaster recovery such as bonding trust, bridging networks and civic participation. These effects are mediated by online civic participation, which itself can be encouraged by the complementary use of television and Web 2.0 applications. By showing the effects and the mechanisms of the use of media on social capital development, the findings have some important implications for researchers as well as authorities and NGOs that are working on post-disaster recovery.