On November 2, 2026, Japan officially launched its new National Disaster Management Agency. Led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and its first disaster management minister, Goshi Hosono, the agency’s primary objective is to strengthen the nation’s disaster preparedness and improve coordination across prevention, emergency response, recovery, and reconstruction. At its launch, the agency issued an ‘emergency request’ calling on, local governments, and central ministries to preemptively improve disaster readiness.
The agency will also monitor how ministries and prefectures implement the requested preparedness measures. Initially, it will review progress reports that ministries and prefectures must submit by the end of 2026. It also has the right to issue formal recommendations and take implementation progress into account when considering budget execution.
The Emergency Request Directives
The agency is encouraging citizens to place greater emphasis on advance preparedness alongside planning for post-disaster recovery. Specifically, the agency has outlined five categories of action for households to strengthen their disaster preparedness. Firstly, the agency encourages citizens to store enough food for at least three days. Where possible, households should extend these reserves to a full week, taking each family member’s needs into account. Moreover, the directives urge citizens to maintain an equivalent three-to-seven-day supply of drinking water.
Additionally, the request urges households to obtain portable emergency toilets and keep the necessary supplies readily accessible. People are asked to store backup sanitary and emergency toilet supplies to cope with interruptions to water supplies and normal sanitation services. Furthermore, the agency urges residents to secure heavy furniture and household appliances appropriately to prevent crushing hazards during violent shaking. To assess home seismic safety, the agency asks owners of homes built in 1981 or earlier to arrange seismic assessments. The agency also asks residents to review local hazard maps and identify appropriate evacuation locations and routes before an emergency occurs. Lastly, the agency urges members of the public to actively participate in local disaster prevention simulations and neighborhood exercises.
Officials explained that the agency’s establishment addresses longstanding disaster risks, rather than anticipating a specific imminent catastrophe. The preparedness request encourages residents to act before an emergency occurs. The request is a response to long-term geological tracking. Japan’s official assessment places the probability of a magnitude-8-to-9 Nankai Trough earthquake at approximately 60%–90% or higher and a 70% chance of a major earthquake striking Tokyo within the next 30 years.
Preparedness Measures for Local Governments and Businesses
The emergency request calls on local governments and encourages preparedness among private enterprises to prepare for prolonged supply chain failures. The agency asks
