Learning Disaster Response HQ Operations Through Experience: Smart Group Supports the Proliferation of Nagoya University’s Disaster Preparedness Educational Materials

Smart Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Koichiro Sato), as part of the Smart Group, has sponsored the mass production of the disaster preparedness card game 'Koko wa Saitai Honbu' (This is the Disaster Response HQ) in collaboration with the Nagoya University Disaster Mitigation Research Center, and donated 100 sets of the game.

The donated card games are scheduled to be distributed via Nagoya University to city halls and local infrastructure companies within Aichi Prefecture. They are intended for use in training programs for local government officials and disaster prevention education for companies responsible for regional infrastructure, providing a hands-on learning experience of disaster response workflows.

### Overview: Learning Disaster Response through Experience
'Koko wa Saitai Honbu' is a cooperative card game that allows participants to learn about the operation of a local government's disaster response headquarters during an actual event. Conducted in groups of four with a 30-minute time limit, players must acquire and utilize 'Resource Cards' and 'Personnel Cards' to achieve missions that evolve chronologically. By progressing through tasks using limited resources, players gain a comprehensive understanding of the disaster response framework.

Through the game, government officials can simulate organizational role fulfillment, the management of resources, personnel, and time, and the coordination between players—key elements of disaster response decision-making.

The game was specifically developed to help staff outside of disaster prevention departments or those newly assigned to such roles easily understand the role and flow of the response headquarters. Disaster response is not completed by a single department; it involves the coordination of various functions such as general affairs, public relations, facilities, transportation, and resident support. The strength of this game lies in its ability to teach this overall picture through dialogue rather than just classroom learning.

### Background: Born from the Challenges Faced by Local Officials
With natural disasters becoming more severe and frequent in recent years, local governments are required to respond quickly and accurately. However, many officials have limited opportunities to experience actual disaster response, leading to a gap in understanding what tasks arise and how the headquarters functions. In response, a research group consisting of researchers and faculty from the Nagoya University Disaster Mitigation Research Center launched the development of this game as an introductory educational tool.

Development focused on making it 'fun to learn' so that officials unfamiliar with headquarters operations could easily engage. Conversely, to convey the difficulty of actual disaster response and organizational management, the rules were meticulously designed with a difficulty level that is not easily cleared on the first attempt. A PC-based software version is also available for individual study, making it easy to introduce into training sessions. Potential applications are seen in both municipal training and corporate disaster drills for infrastructure providers.

### Future Outlook: Spreading Materials to the Field through Industry-University Collaboration
Triggered by this donation, Smart Group will proceed with discussions with relevant parties regarding the use of these materials in disaster training and drills for local governments and infrastructure companies. In the future, the group aims to create a more effective system for improving the disaster response capabilities of government officials by combining game sessions with disaster management lectures and follow-up surveys.

Furthermore, the group plans to verify the tool's potential for helping residents and private enterprises understand the situations local governments face during disasters, encouraging them to view disaster prevention as a 'personal matter.'

### Comment from Koichiro Sato, CEO of Smart Holdings Co., Ltd.
'Smart Group is committed to contributing to the sustainable development of society. Japan is a nation that must confront natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rains. It is crucial not only to learn about disaster prevention but to perceive it as a personal challenge and link it to actual action. This card game was developed to facilitate dialogue and experience, encouraging concrete action. We support this mission and are providing these sets free of charge as part of our social contribution.'

'We also hope to support international residents in Japan so they can better understand the nation's disaster risks and feel secure as prepared members of their communities. We sincerely hope this game supports the efforts of public sector workers and leads to improved regional disaster resilience and flexible adaptability.'