At the “Moshimo Festival Shibuya 2022” held on Saturday, September 3, a “talk session on urban disaster prevention enhanced by public-private partnership” was held.
Talk session on improving urban disaster prevention through public-private partnership
Saturday, September 3, 2022 14:00-14:45
<Speakers>
Tomohiro Kodama (Executive Vice President of INFORICH Co., Ltd.)
Rei Kawamura (Executive Officer, General Manager of Social Good Division, Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.)
Tomohiko Tamura (Social Good Project Leader, Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.)
Katsuya Yukihiro (Director, Disaster Prevention Division, Crisis Management Department, Shibuya Ward)
Shinko Osada (Director and Secretary General of Future Design Shibuya)
In urban life, disaster prevention is not something to be tackled only by local governments and residents, but it is also a very important topic for visitors to the city and people who work there. Currently, many companies in Shibuya Ward are working on this issue through public-private partnerships. In this talk session, first of all, examples of efforts by the government and business operators were introduced.
Ryohin Keikaku, which has MUJI stores all over Japan, started a disaster prevention project called "Usutsuno Moshimo" to make the items that consumers use on a daily basis available even in the event of a disaster, triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake. did. In this project, we have so far held the disaster prevention event "Utsuno Moshimo CARAVAN" together with local governments for local disaster prevention in Niigata, Nagano, Hiroshima, etc., and also developed a disaster prevention set "Usutsu no Moshimo preparation set". It conveys the importance of incorporating preparations into everyday life.
On the other hand, INFORICH's mobile battery rental service for smartphones "ChargeSPOT" is often used to charge smartphones and electronic cigarettes, but for example, it is possible to combine a mobile battery to be rented with a smartphone. In the event of a disaster, it can be used not only for communication but also as a light. In the event of a disaster, we offer free rentals for 48 hours, disseminate disaster information via digital signage, and have signed a disaster prevention agreement with Shibuya Ward to work together with the government to prevent disasters in the city.
Mr. Yukihiro says that behind the partnership between Shibuya City and INFORICH, "There was actually a disaster case where people were having trouble charging their smartphones." ``It is essential to have young people have disaster prevention awareness in order to increase the disaster prevention capacity of the region. In the future, in order to further raise the disaster prevention awareness of the younger generation, they plan to hold a caravan that makes Moshimo Fes Shibuya compact, but in order to raise disaster prevention awareness, self-help and mutual assistance are important, not just public assistance. It is said that it will come.
In response to this, "The Tsutsuno Moshimo Project raises the participants' disaster prevention awareness through the 'Usutsuno Moshimo CARAVAN', which increases their disaster prevention capabilities. There are many people who learn about disaster prevention with their parents by making it a festival-like event,” says Kawamura. Mr. Kodama also said, "Even overseas, countries with high awareness of disaster prevention are aware of the importance of mobile batteries," showing that the efforts of private companies are leading to disaster prevention in cities.
Mr. Yukihiro also said, "Many people come to Shibuya for work and play. There are 230,000 residents, but the daytime population greatly exceeds that. Therefore, if an earthquake occurs during the daytime, people will be unable to return home one after another. For example, at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, some people who had difficulty returning home were able to return home on foot even if public transportation stopped. If that happens, the tremors will become stronger.In that case, it would be dangerous to walk home.In that case, go to a local evacuation center and stay there.Because such cases can be considered, it is also a city not to send people who are unable to return home all at once. It's one of the disaster prevention measures," he explained, explaining the disaster prevention plan unique to Shibuya Ward, where not only residents but people from all over the world gather.
After that, there was also a scene in which the speakers talked about the challenges they face in disaster prevention through public-private partnerships from their respective standpoints. Mr. Kodama said, "When asking local governments to introduce mobile batteries and digital signage, there are times when talks do not proceed smoothly due to the vertical division of the government office." On the other hand, "As a company, we would like to strengthen our relationship with local governments by cooperating with them. By participating in disaster prevention festivals like this one and deepening our relationships, we will be able to do more things in the future," said Kawamura. Mr. Miss. In response, Mr. Yukihiro said, ``If a large-scale earthquake like an earthquake directly hitting the capital occurs, it will be difficult for the government to respond alone. In that case, there is no choice but to have them do their best with self-help and mutual help until government support arrives. Shibuya Ward would like to conclude disaster prevention agreements with more private companies in the future,” he said about the importance of working on disaster prevention through public-private partnerships.
Mr. Kodama also talks about private companies entering disaster prevention agreements as follows. “In the future, both Ryohin Keikaku and INFORICH would like to work on disaster prevention while collaborating with private companies. It was intended to be used as a battery, but Ryohin Keikaku should be able to do the same thing.
Finally, as a resolution for future disaster prevention efforts, Mr. Tamura said, "Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake. It's time to raise awareness of disaster prevention, so I would like to cooperate with such events involving the government." , "Next year, I want to hold a festival in Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Toshima wards at the same time. Ryohin Keikaku has stores in every ward, so I would like to use those connections to connect the governments with each other," said Mr. Kawamura.
Mr. Yukihiro also said, "We would like to have Ryohin Keikaku INFORICH cooperate with the disaster prevention caravan in Shibuya Ward, and we would like to work on it through public-private partnerships." As a private company, by placing ChargeSPOT in such a place, we should be able to build a 'three-way good' relationship between us, the government, and the people who use it."
Governments and private companies have different resources and different efforts, but public-private partnerships are necessary for disaster prevention in cities where various people gather. By combining their strengths and working together, we can realize a highly disaster-resistant society in which everyone can live with peace of mind. It was a talk session where I could realize such things again.
