Ambassador Natsuko Godai Visits Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Natsuko Godai, ambassador of the 'Riku-Natsu Same-Room Evacuation Promotion Project,' visited Fuji City, Shizuoka, and held a dialogue with the mayor and others to promote pet co-evacuation.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 03:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 01:00
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The "Riku-Natsu Same-Room Evacuation Promotion Project" has been active since July 2023. Singer Natsuko Godai aims to realize a society where people and their pets can safely evacuate in the same room in preparation for sudden disasters. The project's purpose is not only disaster preparedness but also to help raise owners' awareness of same-room evacuation and communicate the importance of evacuating with pets.
On Thursday, March 26, Ambassador Natsuko Godai visited Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and held a dialogue with the mayor and others.
■ Ms. Godai: "I would like you to continue to promote the creation of manuals, expanding awareness of shelters, and securing locations."
First, Mr. Terada, Director of the Environmental General Affairs Division, explained the current situation of evacuating with pets in Fuji City: "In Fuji City, the current focus is on developing accompanied evacuation, and for same-room evacuation, we are only proceeding with considerations such as borrowing private facilities or securing vacant ones. Currently, there are 51 designated evacuation shelters in the city, and pet-specific spaces are provided in all of them. We manage the space where people stay and the pet space separately, and we are raising awareness that pet care should be done by the owners themselves, with the cooperation of the designated shelter's management headquarters. This year, to enable owners who have evacuated with their pets to smoothly prepare the pet space at the shelter, we have compiled action procedures and distributed/installed starter kits summarizing the necessary basic supplies in one box to all shelters."
During the dialogue, upon hearing that one location for same-room evacuation outside of designated shelters has been secured but its actual management remains undecided, Ms. Godai stated her opinion: "Owners should handle the management, but since it may be difficult for owners alone, I think it would be easier to act if there were a manual where someone could take leadership and manage it according to the booklet."
Mayor Kanazashi conveyed, "First, we need people to know that they can evacuate to a shelter, so we ask that dogs be registered without fail, and at that time we provide the accompanied evacuation booklet created by the prefectural association, and staff also explain that they can evacuate in the event of a disaster, as well as the discipline and preparations needed to evacuate." He continued, showing a positive attitude towards same-room evacuation: "Although designated shelters are not same-room, in cases where an extended period is clearly expected and it seems unlikely they can return home for a while, we are considering allowing them to move to the facility currently being prepared and take the form of same-room evacuation."
Usa, who conducts disaster animal rescue, expressed a request: "I have seen places affected by various disasters so far, but people who consider their pets as family will choose to stay home no matter how dangerous their house is if the pet's evacuation area is outside or if they cannot go together. There are children who need medicine and children who get weak from stress when their owners are not nearby, so even if it's not strictly same-room evacuation, just having a word saying that those who want to spend time together can do so in a room where pets are allowed will reduce the number of people who choose not to go to a shelter. I would like you to communicate this to the citizens."
Mr. Seki, a member of the Fuji City Council, said, "First of all, I am very glad that there is at least one place where same-room evacuation is possible. As Ms. Godai mentioned, a management manual is important, so it is also important to proceed with its preparation."
On Thursday, March 26, Ambassador Natsuko Godai visited Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and held a dialogue with the mayor and others.
■ Ms. Godai: "I would like you to continue to promote the creation of manuals, expanding awareness of shelters, and securing locations."
First, Mr. Terada, Director of the Environmental General Affairs Division, explained the current situation of evacuating with pets in Fuji City: "In Fuji City, the current focus is on developing accompanied evacuation, and for same-room evacuation, we are only proceeding with considerations such as borrowing private facilities or securing vacant ones. Currently, there are 51 designated evacuation shelters in the city, and pet-specific spaces are provided in all of them. We manage the space where people stay and the pet space separately, and we are raising awareness that pet care should be done by the owners themselves, with the cooperation of the designated shelter's management headquarters. This year, to enable owners who have evacuated with their pets to smoothly prepare the pet space at the shelter, we have compiled action procedures and distributed/installed starter kits summarizing the necessary basic supplies in one box to all shelters."
During the dialogue, upon hearing that one location for same-room evacuation outside of designated shelters has been secured but its actual management remains undecided, Ms. Godai stated her opinion: "Owners should handle the management, but since it may be difficult for owners alone, I think it would be easier to act if there were a manual where someone could take leadership and manage it according to the booklet."
Mayor Kanazashi conveyed, "First, we need people to know that they can evacuate to a shelter, so we ask that dogs be registered without fail, and at that time we provide the accompanied evacuation booklet created by the prefectural association, and staff also explain that they can evacuate in the event of a disaster, as well as the discipline and preparations needed to evacuate." He continued, showing a positive attitude towards same-room evacuation: "Although designated shelters are not same-room, in cases where an extended period is clearly expected and it seems unlikely they can return home for a while, we are considering allowing them to move to the facility currently being prepared and take the form of same-room evacuation."
Usa, who conducts disaster animal rescue, expressed a request: "I have seen places affected by various disasters so far, but people who consider their pets as family will choose to stay home no matter how dangerous their house is if the pet's evacuation area is outside or if they cannot go together. There are children who need medicine and children who get weak from stress when their owners are not nearby, so even if it's not strictly same-room evacuation, just having a word saying that those who want to spend time together can do so in a room where pets are allowed will reduce the number of people who choose not to go to a shelter. I would like you to communicate this to the citizens."
Mr. Seki, a member of the Fuji City Council, said, "First of all, I am very glad that there is at least one place where same-room evacuation is possible. As Ms. Godai mentioned, a management manual is important, so it is also important to proceed with its preparation."