SENDAI -Towards a Disaster-Resilient and Environmentally-Friendly City

• Sendai’s Efforts
  • Urban Development
  • Human Capacity Building
  • Sending out Information
  • Recovery and Reconstruction of Disaster-affected Areas
• DRR Practice
• Residents' Efforts
• Newsletter

When a large scale disaster occurs, Sendai City sets up the Disaster Multilingual Support Center to support foreign residents and visitors who may be unable to obtain sufficient information due to language difficulties or differences in customs. Its operation is managed by the Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association.

Also, the center has a registry of foreign language volunteers who provide assistance during a disaster. As part of their training, volunteers participate in community disaster drills and play the role of an interpreter for foreign residents.

Immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Sendai City set up the Disaster Multilingual Support Center on March 11 until April 30 while providing information and visiting evacuation centers in addition to receiving 1,112 requests for advice in 51 days. During heavy rain disasters, we provide information through social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

In order to raise foreign residents’ awareness of disaster preparedness and to provide smooth support to them during a disaster, Sendai City sends out disaster prevention information through the distribution of disaster prevention pamphlets and DVDs in different languages, and provides disaster preparedness drills and training for newly arrived foreign residents. In addition, we broadcast programs of disaster preparedness talks featuring foreign residents and disaster prevention bite size advice in different languages through collaboration with an FM radio station.

InquiriesInternational Relations and Planning Section,Culture and Tourism Bureau
kik002040@city.sendai.jp