EXCLUSIVE: 65.2 B. Yen Eyed for Japan’s Disaster Management Agency

Tokyo, Aug. 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat plans to seek 65.2 billion yen in its fiscal 2027 budget request for the planned disaster management agency, informed sources told Jiji Press Thursday. The planned budget request is nearly triple the 21.8 billion yen allocated in the previous year, with the agency set to be established as early as November. Of the total, 22.55 billion yen is expected to be used for research and development of disaster management technologies through industry-government-academia collaboration. The government will establish a new funding program under which relevant ministries and agencies will select priority areas and invite private companies to submit proposals for technologies and products. The program will provide end-to-end support from development through adoption by local governments. The government will also promote the overseas use of disaster-prevention technologies developed by Japanese companies. For strategic public awareness campaigns to promote disaster preparedness, 148 million yen will be earmarked. In addition to creating promotional content to facilitate behavioral changes tailored to people’s different lifestyles, the government will also work on preventing the spread of false information at the time of disasters. In addition, the government will compile case studies to help local governments improve living conditions at evacuation centers, especially for women, children and people with disabilities, and organize a database of private-sector support organizations to enable swift assistance for disaster victims. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]