FY2026 Comprehensive Disaster Management Drills

On September 1, 2026 (Disaster Preparedness Day), Prime Minister Takaichi took part in the FY2026 Comprehensive Disaster Management Drills together with all Cabinet members.

This year’s drills simulated an earthquake occurring directly beneath the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and massive earthquakes around the Japan Trench and Chishima Trench.

As part of the drills, the Prime Minister walked to the assembling point at the Prime Minister’s Office and held the first meeting of the Emergency Disaster Management Headquarters and an extraordinary Cabinet meeting. Afterwards, the Prime Minister held a press conference to give an overview of the earthquakes and the status of the Government’s response, and to give a message to the public.

Prime Minister Takaichi then traveled to the venue of the joint disaster management drills in Atsugi City, with the participation of Tokyo and eight other local governments in the metropolitan area. At the venue, the Prime Minister experienced setting up a one-touch tent and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using an automated external defibrillator (AED). She then observed a firefighting drill using a fire blanket, a drill involving the transport of supplies by drone to a high-rise building, and a rescue drill.

At the closing ceremony of the drills, Prime Minister Takaichi said as follows:

(Prime Minister TAKAICHI) 
Despite the hot and humid weather, we have successfully completed the joint disaster management drills by nine local governments in the Kanto region. Thank you very much for all your hard work.

So many people have taken part today: members of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Forces, as well as the Japan Coast Guard, the police, and fire departments—all those who would be among the first to rush to the scene in the event of a disaster. We have also had the participation of various organizations and voluntary disaster management organizations; companies working hard to protect our communities and save lives by harnessing cutting-edge knowledge; and experts in the fields of medicine and health. I extend my sincere gratitude to all of you.

We must protect our own lives ourselves. At the same time, when we face truly difficult circumstances, we must join hands and work together to protect one another. And we must protect our own communities ourselves. Each time you take part in drills like these, you learn how to protect yourselves, and you can also share what you have learned through these drills with your families, neighbors, and friends.

Companies, too, participate in these drills and may come away with new insights into where further technological improvements can be made. Through such realizations, Japan’s technologies for protecting lives will continue to advance.

I believe those technologies will also prove useful to the international community. Japan’s disaster management capabilities, and our ability to recover when disaster strikes—to recover while helping one another—are truly remarkable. We must reach the point where we can proudly share these outstanding disaster management capabilities with the entire world as one of Japan’s treasures.

The same applies to technology. I would like to express my gratitude to the many people who made extensive preparations for today’s drills. A representative from Kanagawa Prefecture stayed by my side throughout and provided explanations. I asked all sorts of questions: What happens to the search-and-rescue robot that went in over there earlier if communications go down? What is the payload capacity of the drone that transported supplies to a high place earlier?

These technologies will improve dramatically. In a few years, drones will be able to carry heavier loads and fly farther. Backup systems will be put in place for communications when emergencies arise. And through drills such as today’s, many people will become able to protect themselves and those around them. I believe this is how we will build resilient local communities.

At long last, the Disaster Management Agency will be launched this year. The Government of Japan will also do everything in its power.

Together with all of you, we will work hard so that fewer people have to experience the kind of sorrow we have seen this year.

Let us join forces to protect Japan, our communities, and one another’s lives.

Thank you very much for all your hard work today. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to join you.