The 27th Kagurazaka Disaster Prevention Communication Square November 10, 2024 (JAPAN)

On November 10, 2024, the 27th Kagurazaka Disaster Prevention Communication Square was held at the Kagurazaka 6-chome Shopping Street in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. This event is held annually to enhance the disaster prevention capabilities of the area and to encourage residents to become disaster prevention conscious on a daily basis. It was organized by the Kagurazaka Shopping Street Promotion Association and operated in cooperation with local organizations such as the Ushigome Fire Department. Many residents came this year as well, and between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, they learned about disaster prevention and fire prevention knowledge and techniques through various programs. The weather on the day was cloudy, the temperature at 2:00 pm was 15.8 degrees, the humidity was 60%, and the wind was 2.3 meters per second from the northwest, making for a cool autumn day. At the Disaster Prevention Communication Square on this day, the firefighting experience corner was the centerpiece, and practical disaster prevention techniques were provided to local residents. The "initial fire extinguishing experience" and "ladder truck riding experience" were particularly popular. In the initial firefighting experience, participants learned how to use a fire extinguisher and how to respond when a fire breaks out, and they worked on operating it with serious expressions on their faces. In the ladder truck experience, participants selected by lottery in advance actually experienced the view from a high place and got to experience a part of the work of a firefighter. There was also a corner where participants could experience the shaking with an earthquake simulation vehicle, and practical training on first aid using an AED, so that they could learn specific knowledge to respond quickly and calmly in a disaster. In addition, a "mini fire truck ride experience" was offered for children, and small firefighters were seen proudly riding in the vehicle and driving around the venue (alleys). This experience is popular every year as an initiative to make disaster prevention feel familiar to young generations, and many families enjoyed it this year as well. In addition, tasting of alpha rice was also held at the venue, and it seemed that participants deepened their understanding of emergency stockpiling by checking the taste of preserved food. As an event to raise awareness of disaster prevention, a "mini disaster prevention concert" was held by the brass band of Ushigome Third Junior High School, livening up the atmosphere at the venue. The performance, which began at 2:30 p.m., drew many visitors to the venue, and the sound of the brass band reverberated throughout the shopping district, creating a sense of unity among the local community. In addition, a display of photographs documenting disasters that had occurred throughout Japan provided visitors with an opportunity to learn about past disasters and reaffirm the importance of disaster prevention. As part of the health promotion efforts, a health consultation booth was set up by the JCHO Tokyo Shinjuku Medical Center, where residents who brought their health check results could receive advice from doctors and nurses. This program was noted for its consideration of the importance of health management in the event of a disaster, and was used by many visitors. In this way, the Kagurazaka Disaster Prevention Community Square has become an important event for local residents to think about disaster prevention, and the number of participants is increasing year by year. The organizers, the Kagurazaka Shopping District Promotion Association, and the various organizations that cooperate with it aim to create a "safe and secure Kagurazaka" through the provision of information and experiences to protect the safety of the community.
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