Daily Life Lessons · Disaster Preparedness
Find out on your own the date, time, and content of disaster drills in your area or workplace and take part, experience the basics of evacuation, emergency calls, initial firefighting, and first aid, and be able to tell the organizers about any support you need.
To act calmly in a disaster, regular practice is important. Local disaster drills (防災訓練) are mainly held by neighborhood associations (町内会・自治会), voluntary disaster prevention organizations, and cities, wards, towns, and villages. September 1 every year is "Disaster Prevention Day" (防災の日), and during the week that includes this day (Disaster Prevention Week), drills and other events are held in many places.
At a drill, you can practice evacuating, practice calling 119, put out a small fire with a fire extinguisher, learn first aid such as chest compressions and using an AED, walk through smoke, and feel earthquake shaking in an earthquake simulation vehicle. The content differs by area.
Check the date, time, and place on the circulating notice board (回覧板), bulletin boards, or your city, ward, town, or village website. If you are worried about Japanese or have a physical disability, tell the organizers in advance for peace of mind.
災害（さいがい）の ときに あわてない ために、ふだんから 練習（れんしゅう）します。
地域（ちいき）の 防災訓練（ぼうさいくんれん）： - 町内会（ちょうないかい）や 市・区などが します。 - 9月1日は「防災の日」です。この ころ、多くの 所で 訓練が あります。
訓練で できる こと（地域で ちがいます）： - 逃げる 練習 - 119番に 電話する 練習 - 消火器（しょうかき）の 使い方 - 心臓（しんぞう）マッサージ、AED - 煙（けむり）の 中を 歩く 体験、地震の ゆれの 体験
日や 場所は、回覧板（かいらんばん）や 市・区の ホームページで 見ます。 日本語や 体の ことで 心配が あれば、前に 主催者（しゅさいしゃ）に 言います。
What day is September 1 every year?
It is "Disaster Prevention Day," established in connection with events such as the Great Kanto Earthquake. The week that includes this day is Disaster Prevention Week.
At a drill, you practice the number to call when you notice a fire. Which number?
Call 119 for fires and ambulances. At drills, you can practice how to make the call.
Which tool do you learn to use in initial firefighting training?
You learn how to use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire while it is still small.
Which is a good way to find out the date, time, and place of a local drill?
Drills are often announced on the circulating notice board, bulletin boards, or the city, ward, town, or village website.
What is a good way for a wheelchair user who wants to join a drill?
If you tell them in advance what support you need, it is easier to work out a safe way together.
Q. Can I take part even if I am not a member of the neighborhood association?
A. It depends on the organizer. Some drills are open to anyone who lives in the area. Contact the neighborhood association or the city, ward, town, or village that is holding it.
Q. It is difficult for me to evacuate on my own. What else can I do besides drills?
A. Cities, wards, towns, and villages keep a list of people who would have difficulty evacuating on their own in a disaster (避難行動要支援者名簿). Who is eligible and how to register differ by municipality, so ask at your city, ward, town, or village counter.
Q. Is there practice I can do at home?
A. Decide with your family where to meet and how to contact each other in a disaster, and actually walk to the evacuation site. It also helps to check where the fire extinguisher is in your home or building.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-10-03
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original