Annual comprehensive disaster prevention drills for 2010 were held on September 1, Japan's National Disaster Prevention Day. Prime Minister Naoto Kan took part in the drills together with all Cabinet members.

This year, the drills were conducted based on a scenario that a Tokai earthquake, Tonankai earthquake, and Nankai earthquake unexpectedly occurred simultaneously, with a magnitude of 8.7, a maximum seismic intensity of 7, and an epicenter off the southern coast of Wakayama Prefecture, around 7:00 a.m., affecting an extremely large area extending from the Kanto Region to Kyushu.

The drills involved the operation of the government headquarters at the Prime Minister's Office, which is in charge of ensuring the implementation of emergency measures for earthquake disasters, among other tasks. After convening a meeting of the Headquarters for Emergency Disaster Response, the Prime Minister held a press conference to announce the establishment of the Headquarters for Emergency Disaster Response and the government's response policy, and sent a message to the people.

The Prime Minister then led a government inspection team and arrived by a helicopter of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) at the venue for comprehensive disaster prevention drills in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, based on a scenario of a Tokai earthquake occurring, and observed training sessions for making sandbags, carrying patients on an instant stretcher, and other activities.
At the closing ceremony after the drills, the Prime Minister said in his address, "What is the most crucial in disaster prevention is mutual aid among people -- I believe that is where the most important element is found. Amidst great concern about earthquakes across the nation, particularly in the Tokai Region, I would like to ensure that the government will prepare itself for disaster, together with the people, so that it can confidently say that 'Providing is preventing'."