On Saturday, June 22, 2024, a tsunami evacuation training exercise for local residents and tourists (role-players) was held in the Toi area of Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in cooperation with Izu City.
Students from Chiba University wore orange bibs and participated in the training as "tourists."
Izu City's "Tourism and Disaster Prevention Community Development" has been attracting attention as a model case for community development in areas where population decline and the severity of disasters is a concern. Many media outlets also covered this training as the first example of a training that aimed to combine disaster prevention and tourism.
Yoshiaki Murakami, Program-Specific Researcher in charge of planning the evacuation training, commented, "We have received many positive comments from residents about the evacuation support for tourists, which has been very encouraging. I also express my deep appreciation for the generous support from the Izu City Hall and local residents in conducting the drill. We also would like to continue our involvement in efforts to balance tourism and disaster prevention in the future.
The Training was introduced in the following media.
NHK Shizuoka NEWS WEB (2024/6/22) "Evacuation Drill Before Opening Tsunami Evacuation Tower in Doi District, Izu City"(Japanese only) [video].
Yomiuri Shimbun Online (2024/6/23), "Izu: 10-meter tsunami drill to be held at evacuation complex to be completed next month" (Japanese only)
NitteleNEWS NNN (2024/6/24) "Izu to become a tourist facility during normal times and an evacuation center during disasters..." Residents and tourists train at tsunami evacuation complex to open in July (Izu City, Shizuoka)"(Japanese only) [video interview with Chiba University students].
Mainichi Shimbun (2024/6/24) "Residents participate in evacuation drills aiming for the third floor and above at 'Terrasse' when a tsunami hits" (Japanese only)
Tokyo Shimbun Web (6/26/2024) "Protecting tourists from tsunami! Izu-Dohi area, Izu, Japan, conducts guidance drill to new evacuation complex "within 6 minutes of earthquake" 200 people verified"(Japanese only) [with the interview to Chiba University students].
Playing a tourist rescued by a resident
(Chiba University student)
Scene of the evacuation training
Matsubara Park Tsunami Evacuation Complex "Terrasse Orange Toy"
Evacuation tower at the children's park
