As Tokyo attracts more international visitors, officials have been conducting disaster drills to address communication challenges with non-Japanese speakers.
Last month, an evacuation drill in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward required participants to avoid speaking Japanese. Instead, those playing the role of foreign tourists used translation apps to communicate with first responders.
“My friend is injured, we need to stop the bleeding,” said one participant acting as a victim.
“What should we do next?” asked another.
The drill simulated the aftermath of a major earthquake, with streets blocked and trains out of service, forcing people to seek refuge at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. About 40% of the nearly 30 evacuees were foreign nationals.
Shelter staff displayed signs in multiple languages, instructing evacuees to stay calm and follow directions. However, some challenges emerged, such as difficulties helping evacuees charge phones and responding to questions about allergens in meals.
“We realized how challenging communication can be when people don’t share a common language,” said Jun Shindo from Sompo Risk Management, the company that organized the drill.
These drills come as Tokyo experiences a surge in international tourism. Between April and June last year, Tokyo welcomed 6.83 million foreign visitors, a 31% increase from the same period in 2023 and a record high for an April–June quarter. This figure was also 64% higher than in 2019.
Despite the increase in tourism, only 27.2% of businesses in the hospitality and restaurant sector have a disaster response plan, according to a 2023 Cabinet Office survey — the lowest among all industries. This raises concerns that hotels and restaurants could face chaos during a disaster, especially since many foreign visitors are unfamiliar with earthquake protocols.
Another evacuation drill took place near Tokyo Station last month, where rail staff assisted about 20 foreign college students acting as international tourists. Employees informed them in English that trains were not running and used translation apps to provide additional guidance.
In January, a disaster drill in Tokyo’s Shibuya district used a drone equipped with a camera and loudspeaker to give instructions after monitoring pedestrian movement. Organizers plan to conduct a similar drill with multilingual support in the future.
Foreign tourists spent an estimated 1.18 trillion yen ($7.92 billion) in Tokyo during the April–June 2024 period, marking the first time spending exceeded 1 trillion yen in a single quarter.
However, a Nikkei survey from last fall revealed that disaster management plans in 16 of Tokyo’s 23 special wards lack specific provisions for international visitors.
“Communicating disaster relief measures to foreign visitors is extremely important,” Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said last month. “We’ll explore ways to ensure information reaches everyone effectively.”