Press Releases

1. On Tuesday, September 2, during the Disaster Prevention Week, a briefing session on the safety confirmation process of missing foreign nationals in Japan in case of disasters will be held for the first time since the Great East Japan Earthquake at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on the lessons learned from the earthquake. Hirotaka Ishihara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to give an opening address at the briefing session.

2. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, in response to inquiries from diplomatic missions in Tokyo the Foreign Nationals’ Affairs Division in the Consular Affairs Bureau at the MOFA engaged in activities to support the confirmation of the safety of foreign nationals. At this briefing session, explanations will be provided on the processes and transmission of information relating to confirming the safety of foreign nationals at the time of a large-scale disaster, not only from the MOFA but also from relevant agencies and ministries such as the National Police Agency and the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice. In addition, with the cooperation of local government-related organizations including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as the Tokyo Fire Department, engaging in disaster responses and prevention on a daily basis, each will explain their respective initiatives. The event will also be held with a view to building networks between the relevant parties in order to prepare for large-scale disasters.