FY2026 Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Drill with All Cabinet Ministers
Overview
On Disaster Prevention Day, September 1, Reiwa 8, the FY2026 Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Drill was conducted with the participation of all cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Takaichi. The Prime Minister walked to the Prime Minister's Official Residence, convened the first Emergency Disaster Control Headquarters meeting and an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, then explained the earthquake's outline and the government's response at a press conference and addressed the public. Afterwards, at the venue of the joint disaster preparedness drill of nine prefectures and cities in Atsugi, the Prime Minister experienced and observed drills involving first aid, firefighting, relief-supply transport, and rescue operations. At the closing ceremony, the Prime Minister discussed self-help and mutual assistance, community disaster preparedness, advances in corporate technology, backup communications environments, and the establishment of the Disaster Management Agency this year.
Key points
- A comprehensive disaster preparedness drill was conducted with the participation of all cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Takaichi.
- The drill assumed a Tokyo metropolitan inland earthquake, a Japan Trench earthquake, and a Chishima Trench earthquake.
- The necessity of self-help, mutual assistance, and protecting one's own community was emphasized.
- It was stated that the Disaster Management Agency will be established this year.
Overview
On Disaster Prevention Day, September 1, Reiwa 8, the FY2026 Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Drill was conducted with the participation of all cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Takaichi. The drill assumed a Tokyo metropolitan inland earthquake, a Japan Trench earthquake, and a Chishima Trench earthquake.
The Prime Minister walked to the Prime Minister's Official Residence, convened the first Emergency Disaster Control Headquarters meeting and an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, then explained the earthquake's outline and the government's response at a press conference and addressed the public.
Impact
The Prime Minister stated that repeated drills help people learn how to protect themselves and enable them to share what they have learned with their families, neighbors, and friends.
The Prime Minister expressed the view that insights gained through corporate participation will lead to technological advances in disaster preparedness and lifesaving and contribute to the international community, while strong local communities are built through drills.
Details
At the venue of the joint disaster preparedness drill of nine prefectures and cities in Atsugi, the Prime Minister experienced setting up a one-touch tent and performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an AED (automated external defibrillator).
The Prime Minister observed drills involving firefighting with fire blankets, transporting supplies to high-rise buildings by drone, and rescue operations.
The participants included the Self-Defense Forces, the U.S. military, the Japan Coast Guard, police, fire services, various organizations, voluntary disaster preparedness organizations, companies, and experts in the medical and health fields.
At the closing ceremony, the Prime Minister discussed the necessity of self-help, mutual assistance, and community disaster preparedness, and expressed expectations for advances in backup communications environments and technologies for transporting heavier supplies over longer distances. The Prime Minister stated that the Disaster Management Agency will be established this year.