Preparing Together for Disasters: Survey for International Residents in Japan
September 1 is recognized in Japan as Disaster Preparedness Day. With the constant risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons, it is essential that everyone living in Japan is ready to respond quickly and calmly when disasters strike.
Effective disaster preparedness means ensuring that all members of society—regardless of age, residence, or background—know exactly what to do in their specific situation. This helps prevent confusion, panic, or added strain on others during an evacuation or emergency response.
Certain groups are more vulnerable in times of disaster, including children, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. With proper preparation, many of the challenges they face can be reduced. Among the groups at higher risk are also international residents. Unlike Japanese citizens, many foreign residents did not grow up with regular disaster drills, and in some areas, disaster information and guidance are not available in English or other languages.
To address this, Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) is launching a project to support international residents in Japan through workshops and multilingual information-sharing on disaster preparedness. As part of this initiative, we have created a short survey to better understand the current level of preparedness among international residents and to identify their specific needs. This survey will be conducted until the end of September, so please fill the form until then.
The survey will take only about five minutes to complete, and your input will directly help us improve the content of our upcoming Household Disaster Preparedness Planning Workshops. Participants will also be invited to join our online workshops in the coming months. Please use the link HERE.
We would be very grateful for your cooperation and support. Together, we can build safer, more resilient communities in Japan.