2026 Prime Minister’s Award for Disaster Prevention Merit: Winners Announced
Overview
The recipients of the 2026 Prime Minister’s Award for Disaster Prevention Merit have been decided. Among those affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, one individual and six organizations will be honored for outstanding achievements in flood-control activities during heavy rain disasters, landslide disaster prevention, and support for affected local governments by TEC-FORCE. The Cabinet Office will announce the award ceremony schedule and other details separately.
Key points
- The recipients of the 2026 Prime Minister’s Award for Disaster Prevention Merit have been decided.
- One individual and six organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will receive awards.
- The recognized achievements concern flood-control activities, landslide disaster prevention, and TEC-FORCE support for affected local governments.
Overview
The Prime Minister’s Award for Disaster Prevention Merit is based on the Cabinet's May 11, 1982 understanding on Disaster Prevention Day and Disaster Prevention Week. It recognizes organizations or individuals whose contributions are considered particularly outstanding in disaster prevention activities, such as saving lives and preventing the spread of damage during disasters, promoting disaster preparedness awareness in ordinary times, and developing disaster prevention systems.
The recipients were selected by the Cabinet Office.
Impact
The Cabinet Office will announce the award ceremony schedule and other details separately.
Details
Three organizations will be honored for flood-control activities. Tamana City Fire Corps and Kumamoto City Fire Corps (Kumamoto Prefecture), and Kirishima City Fire Corps (Kagoshima Prefecture), are cited for outstanding disaster prevention activities at sites affected by the heavy rain disaster of August 2025.
One individual and one organization will be honored for landslide disaster prevention activities. Shinya Hiramatsu (Nagano Prefecture) is recognized for contributions to developing disaster prevention systems. The Maibara City Fire Corps Ibuki Area Second Division Ibuki Team (Shiga Prefecture) is cited for outstanding disaster prevention activities at the site of the heavy rain disaster of July 2024.
Two organizations will be honored for emergency disaster response activities. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Emergency Disaster Response Team and the Public Works Research Institute Emergency Disaster Response Team are cited for providing support to affected local governments through TEC-FORCE during the heavy rain disaster of August 2025.