Saitama Prefecture's Soka City Signs Disaster Response Partnership with Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association

Civic Force, a certified nonprofit organization that conducts disaster relief activities (headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kaori Nemiki), signed a cooperation agreement on June 26 with Soka City in Saitama Prefecture and the Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association regarding mutual support for supplying relief物资 during disasters. The agreement signing ceremony was held the same day in Soka City, marking the launch of a new disaster response system integrating government, private-sector businesses, and support organizations.

From second right in the front row: Shunsuke Saima, Chairman of the Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association; Yuriko Yamakawa, Mayor of Soka City; and Kaori Nemiki, Representative Director of Civic Force.

Under the agreement, the Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association will utilize its member pachinko parlors and their spacious parking lots to serve as facilities for receiving evacuees outside official shelters and as distribution hubs for relief supplies. Civic Force will be responsible for procuring, storing, and transporting relief物资, enabling rapid response activities when disasters occur.

At the signing ceremony, Soka City Mayor Yuriko Yamakawa said, "Disasters have become increasingly frequent in recent years, making it difficult for administrative bodies alone to respond effectively. This agreement marks a significant step forward. We aim to make maximum preparations to be ready for any potential disaster." Shunsuke Saima, Chairman of the Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association, added, "From our position of valuing community connections, we aim to contribute to local safety and peace of mind by utilizing stored物资 and collaborating with relevant agencies to deliver prompt support during disasters," emphasizing the importance of public-private collaboration in disaster preparedness.

Kaori Nemiki, Representative Director of Civic Force, said, "Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have experienced various disasters of differing scales and locations, which has deeply reinforced our understanding of the importance of preparedness before disasters strike. As this is our first initiative partnering with pachinko parlors in the Greater Tokyo Area, we aim to raise awareness during normal times so that local residents can utilize these locations as support hubs when disasters occur."

Stockpiling air beds and portable toilets

In conjunction with the agreement, Civic Force has delivered the following物资 to Soka City and SAP Soka, a pachinko parlor within the city:

・Air beds: 160 units ・Portable toilets: 30,000 uses ・Hand lift: 1 unit ・Cart with baskets: 5 units

By collaborating with local governments during normal times to stockpile relief物资, rapid distribution to Soka City and surrounding areas will be possible immediately after a disaster.

Civic Force previously signed a similar agreement in 2025 with Wakayama Prefecture and the Wakayama Prefectural Amusement Industry Cooperative Association, and has been advancing systems for物资 stockpiling and distribution in partnership with local governments and pachinko parlors. This latest agreement is part of that ongoing effort. Civic Force also conducts joint stockpiling for disasters with municipal governments such as Takeo City in Saga Prefecture and Kainan City in Wakayama Prefecture.

Preparing for large-scale disasters requires securing substantial relief物资 in advance. However, many local governments face challenges due to insufficient storage space. To address this issue, portable toilets and air beds from the物资 delivered this time are being stored in the warehouse of SAP Soka, a member parlor of the Soka-Yashio Area Pachinko Industry Crime Prevention Association.

These relief物资 have been purchased and stockpiled with the support of companies that endorse Civic Force's mission. Moving forward, Civic Force will continue strengthening partnerships with local governments and businesses to contribute to building disaster-resilient communities.

Certified Nonprofit Organization Civic Force

Founded in 2009, Civic Force responds to large-scale disasters in Japan by facilitating collaboration among businesses, NPOs, and government bodies to deliver rapid and effective relief. From the immediate aftermath through recovery and reconstruction, the organization leverages the unique strengths of each partner to deliver support tailored to affected communities' needs. By connecting disaster-affected areas and sharing experiences and lessons learned, Civic Force supports the creation of disaster-resilient communities.

Organization: Certified Nonprofit Organization Civic Force

Representative Director: Kaori Nemiki

Address: 2F, Tomigaya Ogawa Building, 2-41-12 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

URL: https://www.civic-force.org/about/index.html