About a year ago, in August 2024, the “Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information (Megaquake Advisory)” was issued.
Looking back, I feel this may also have been what brought the “Reiwa rice panic” to the surface, but I still vividly remember the unprecedented sense of tension.
Unlike floods, which can be predicted to some extent, earthquakes strike suddenly, so it is important to be prepared in everyday life and to conduct regular drills.
With this in mind, Kurashiki City planned the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill.”
The first drill was held on September 26, 2024, with about 90,000 participants. The second drill, “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill 2025,” has also been confirmed.
We introduce the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill,” which helps people learn that “you are responsible for protecting your own safety,” reduce unexpected situations as much as possible, and take the opportunity to review their everyday disaster-prevention measures.
The information provided was current when this article was published in July 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill 2025”?
The “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill” is an earthquake response drill to be held from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 26, 2025.
The purpose is to help people learn to “protect their own safety,” make avoiding injury during a disaster the basic priority, and strengthen the community’s disaster-prevention capabilities, including helping those nearby.
Essentially the same as the “ShakeOut Drill”
In other local governments, the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill” is held under the name “ShakeOut Drill.”
ShakeOut is the name of a new earthquake-preparedness drill that was proposed and launched in California, USA, in 2008 by earthquake research organizations and others.
The basic idea is to set a date and time for the “1-2-3” earthquake safety actions in a community, conduct advance registration and learning, and have everyone carry them out “all at once” wherever they are.
The 1-2-3 safety actions are as follows:
- Drop low (DROP)
- Cover your head (COVER)
- Hold on (HOLD ON)
The name ShakeOut was coined by its originators.
In Japan, it is written as “ShakeOut” or “ShakeOut Drill,” though translated names such as “simultaneous disaster-prevention drill” are also accepted. The “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill” is one example of using such a translated name.
Differences from the previous drill (FY2024)
The “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill” was also held on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
The participation method and content are basically the same, but the following points differ from the previous drill.
- Disaster Emergency Message Dial “171”
With the cooperation of NTT West, the Disaster Emergency Message Dial “171” will be available. Assuming an earthquake occurs while you are at work, try using it as one way to let your family know you are safe. - Introduction and promotion of the “Kurashiki Emergency Alert App”
As operation of the disaster-prevention loudspeaker towers will end at the end of March 2026, this service provides emergency information during disasters, such as evacuation information.
When an emergency alert is received, the app launches automatically and plays an audio announcement. - More flexible registration for participating groups
Taking the 9 a.m. start time into account, participation by hobby groups is now accepted, including groups playing ground golf or tennis.
Also, even if it is difficult to take part in the drill at 9 a.m., you can use the audio announcement sent through the “Kurashiki Emergency Alert App” (it is saved in the history) and conduct the drill at a time that suits you.
How to participate in the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill”
Taking part is very easy.
Members of the public do not need to register. As advance preparation, read the information page and flyer for the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill” to understand the purpose and content of the drill.
Groups (businesses, voluntary disaster-prevention organizations, neighborhood associations, schools, etc.) are encouraged to register, so check the Kurashiki City website and register to participate.
If you have the emergency alert FM radio “Kokucchi,” check that it is working properly, and install the “Kurashiki Emergency Alert App” on your smartphone. Then you’ll be ready.
All that remains is to conduct the drill at 9 a.m. on the day (September 26).
The drill itself takes about one minute.
We encourage you to take part, and to use this opportunity to review what to do in the event of an earthquake.
We spoke with Kaku Kengo and Yano Akihito from the Crisis Management Division, Kurashiki City Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Office, who are planning and running the “Kurashiki City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill 2025.”
Interview with staff from the Crisis Management Division, Kurashiki City Disaster Prevention and Crisis Management Office
This is the second time the drill has been held. Could you tell us about the results of the previous drill?
Kaku (honorific omitted)
Last year, the “Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information (Megaquake Advisory)” was issued before the drill, and about 90,000 people took part.
The drill also revealed some challenges. We decided to hold it again this year because we believe it is important to raise disaster-prevention awareness among each and every resident and to foster cooperation within the community, including voluntary disaster-prevention organizations.
What kinds of challenges came to light during last year’s drill?
Kaku
Last year, about 1,100 organizations (mainly businesses and schools) indicated that they would participate, but we also noticed differences in disaster-prevention awareness.
One key point seemed to be how well people in leadership roles or those responsible for disaster prevention could bring others along. This appeared to be reflected in differences in the initiatives taken (the content of the follow-up “Plus One” drills).
I felt that how far we can advance on this issue is a challenge for the administration as well.
Also, last year, most of the expressions of interest came from businesses, while participation from community groups such as community development councils was relatively low. So this year, we are encouraging participation by, for example, inviting groups to attend outreach lectures.
Are there any differences from last year’s drill?
Kaku
Basically, it is the same as last year’s drill.
However, as a “Plus One” drill this year, with the cooperation of NTT West, participants will be able to use the “Disaster Emergency Message Dial 171.”
With the “Disaster Emergency Message Dial 171,” you can use your own voice to let others know you are safe. When a major earthquake occurs, you would first want to see your family and check that they are safe. However, if transportation networks are cut off due to liquefaction or other damage, it can become extremely difficult to get home.
In such circumstances, hearing a familiar voice can bring a great deal of reassurance.
To use it, call “171,” enter your phone number, and record a message. To listen to a recorded message, call 171, enter the other person’s phone number, and play it back.
When it is difficult to connect by phone directly during a disaster, you can leave a message such as “I’m safe.” It is a system that allows family members in different locations to confirm one another’s safety.
Yano (honorific omitted)
We have also introduced the “Kurashiki Emergency Alert App.”
With operation of the disaster-prevention loudspeaker towers ending at the end of March 2026, this is a system for delivering emergency broadcasts during disasters, such as evacuation information, at high volume through smartphones.
You can receive Kurashiki City’s emergency broadcasts even if you live outside the city. This means family members living apart from parents or others in Kurashiki City can hear the city’s emergency broadcasts and urge their family members in the city to evacuate. We expect that a call from family members during an emergency can be very effective in prompting people to take action.
The service will launch on October 1, but it will be available for testing during this drill, so we hope you will install it.
The drill starts at 9 a.m., but there will be cases where schools and others simply cannot conduct it at that time.
The 10 most recent emergency alerts are automatically saved on your smartphone and can be reviewed later, so you can use them to conduct the drill at a time that suits you.
Another change this year is that, taking the 9 a.m. start time into account, we are accepting participation by hobby groups, including people who play ground golf or tennis.
The City-Wide Earthquake Response Drill is an exercise in protecting yourself instinctively—drop low, cover your head, and hold on—by imagining that an earthquake has occurred where you are at that moment.
If you are outdoors, we hope you will discuss within your group what actions you should take.
Now that you have held it once, what significance do you think this drill has?
Kaku
This drill is very simple: “When you feel a jolt, take safety precautions”, and it takes only about one minute to complete. Anyone can participate, from adults to children.
The reason this simple drill is important is that if a major earthquake on the scale of a Nankai Trough earthquake actually occurs, if you are injured, many people will be needed for the rescue efforts that follow.
However, if this drill helps you first ensure your own safety, you can then become someone who helps others. This is a case where a “negative” turns into a “positive,” and it has great significance in an emergency.
On the other hand, if you have not practiced, you will surely panic when the time comes, wondering “What should I do?” That is why it is important to actually experience and commit to memory this simplest, yet extremely important, first step.
By experiencing this drill, you can become one of the people helping others when a Nankai Trough earthquake actually occurs. We hope this simple drill will be a “starting point” for everyone to think about disaster preparedness and take action.
Have you received any feedback from people who participated in the drill?
Yano
We received several interesting comments from participants last year.
For example, one unexpected comment was, “It was difficult to get under the desk.”
As adults, we don’t often get the chance to quickly duck under a desk in our everyday lives, do we? When people actually tried it, they found that “my body had grown, and the desk was smaller than I expected,” or that their knees or back hurt. It seems the drill also gave them a chance to become aware of their physical condition.
Many also said, “I understood how important it is to protect your head,” and some said, “I realized I need to buy a helmet.”
Based on these comments, we believe the drill was very helpful in renewing participants’ awareness of the need to “protect themselves first”.
Especially since many participants did not regularly take part in disaster-preparedness drills, experiencing this simple first step of taking action to protect themselves seems to have been a valuable experience.
Finally, do you have a message for Kurashiki City residents?
Kaku
The “Kurashiki Citywide Earthquake Response Drill” is designed with a Nankai Trough earthquake in mind.
If a major earthquake were to occur, the manpower of the government, including the fire department, would be absolutely insufficient. In that situation, each and every resident’s awareness of disaster preparedness, as well as the cooperation of local residents, including voluntary disaster-prevention organizations, would be extremely important.
A wide area of Kurashiki City is expected to experience strong shaking of lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, and in some places upper 6. We hope this drill will give you an opportunity to reconsider what preparations are needed.
This drill is simple and takes only about one minute. Also, anyone can participate, from adults to children.
By protecting yourself, I hope you will be able to turn a negative into a positive and become someone who helps others.
We hope many residents will take part.
From the Writer
An acquaintance who moved to Kurashiki from the Kanto region once told me, “There are so few earthquakes in Kurashiki that people’s awareness of disaster preparedness actually slackens.”
It is true that in Kurashiki, the “July 2018 Heavy Rains” that occurred seven years ago left a strong impression, and people tend to associate “disaster” with “flooding.” Awareness of “earthquakes” may be low.
I was reminded of this by the “Nankai Trough Earthquake Extra Information (Megathrust Earthquake Advisory)” announced last year (2024). To be honest, the only preparation I could think of was stockpiling supplies.
Preparing for disasters does not end once you have made preparations; it is also important to review them regularly.
Why not take part in the “Kurashiki Citywide Earthquake Response Drill 2025” at 9 a.m. on September 26 and set aside some time to think about disaster preparedness?
Kurashiki Citywide Earthquake Response Drill details
| Name | Kurashiki Citywide Earthquake Response Drill |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, September 26, 2025, 9 a.m. |
| Location | Homes, workplaces, schools, etc. |
| Participation fee (tax included) | None ※For groups (workplaces, voluntary disaster-prevention organizations, neighborhood associations, schools, etc.), registration is recommended |
| Website | Kurashiki Citywide Earthquake Response Drill (Kurashiki City official website) |
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