Learning from the Kumamoto Earthquake: Introducing "Oiteku Bōsai" (Leaving Valuables Behind for Disaster Preparedness) to Protect "Essential Items for Life Reconstruction" after ~3 Years of Temporary Housing Life

Master Lock Sentry Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter "MLSJ") is approaching the 10-year mark since the Kumamoto Earthquake and will delve into what should have been prepared, based on the situation of temporary housing that lasted for about 3 years after the earthquake. Furthermore, we interviewed Disaster Preparedness Consultant Misa Fujita about a new form of disaster preparedness.

2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto Earthquake that occurred in 2016 (Heisei 28). Japan continues to face the risk of earthquakes. For example, the probability of a Nankai Trough megaquake occurring within 30 years is estimated to be 60-90% or more (※3), and along the Kuril Trench, the probability of an ultra-mega earthquake of M8.8 or higher occurring within 30 years is reported to be 7-40% (※4).

In the Kumamoto Earthquake, it was decided that the burden of demolition due to house collapse would be covered by public funds, making it the third case following the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 (Heisei 7) and the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 (Heisei 23) (※5). On the other hand, to receive a disaster victim certificate, residents need to provide documents such as the registered seal certificate and identification of the damaged house owner. In addition to their homes being damaged, it was extremely difficult to gather these procedural documents. In the Noto Peninsula Earthquake that occurred in 2024, many opinions were received about the hardship of preparing various certificates due to the lack of identification, as houses were lost or damaged (※6).

Against this backdrop, in the Kumamoto Earthquake, among the 6,988 households whose emergency temporary housing supply period expired in 2019 (about 3 years after the earthquake), 36% (2,543 households) (※7) had their temporary housing stay extended.

During disasters, it is important not only to have what is necessary for evacuation life but also to consider how to protect "things that are not carried out during evacuation but would be problematic if lost," such as important documents for life reconstruction. Starting in 2026, MLSJ proposes a new disaster preparedness concept called "Nige Ittoku Bōsai" (Flee First Disaster Preparedness), which utilizes fire and water-resistant safes that are used daily. This concept, in addition to recommended disaster bags/backpacks ("Motteku Bōsai" - Take with you disaster preparedness), defines "Oiteku Bōsai" (Leaving valuables behind for disaster preparedness) as firmly protecting the things each person cherishes in their daily life and the things that will definitely be needed when life returns. It is a new disaster preparedness concept that enables prompt evacuation by making evacuation the sole option in case of emergency, eliminating worries and hesitation.

Keywords: Safe, Disaster Preparedness, Fire, Crime Prevention, Storage, Security, Earthquake, Flood Damage, Theft, Typhoon