On Saturday, November 15, the 2025 Shinanomachi Community Disaster Prevention Drill was held at the Keio University Hospital main parking lot. The Shinanomachi Community Disaster Prevention Community consists of the Shinanomachi Neighborhood Association, the Shinanomachi Merchants Association, and business organizations in the Shinanomachi area, which have entered into an agreement to provide mutual assistance within the district in the event of a disaster. To create a safe and secure community, the community has been conducting annual regional disaster prevention drills since 2000 with the cooperation of the Yotsuya Fire Station, rotating the venue among the three local business organizations.
For this 23rd drill, our hospital served as the host organizer, and Hospital Director Fukunaga, who was commissioned as the Honorary Fire Chief for the day by the Yotsuya Fire Station, took command of the training. In the comprehensive drill simulating an earthquake directly beneath the capital, training was conducted covering the initial response of Keio University Hospital and the transport and acceptance of casualties with the support of the Shinanomachi Community Disaster Prevention Community.
Daily preparation and regular training for each individual are vital to prepare for disasters. Following the comprehensive drill, individual training sessions and firefighting experiences were held, in which everyone, including local residents with children, could participate.
[Comprehensive Drill]
Initial response training by the Keio University Shinanomachi Campus Private Fire Brigade
Medical relief activity (triage) training by doctors and nurses
Rescue training using a ladder truck
Simultaneous water discharge training
[Individual Training / Firefighting Experience]
Initial firefighting training using a neighborhood disaster prevention training vehicle
Smoke experience house
First aid, rescue, and recovery training
Earthquake simulation vehicle training
JRAT evacuation center experience corner (Hospital Rehabilitation Department)
Emergency soup kitchen training
Firefighting equipment fitting experience
Fire engine tour
A total of 280 people participated on the day, including faculty and staff of Keio University Hospital, residents and workers in the Shinanomachi area, and representatives from Shinanomachi business organizations. At the end of the comprehensive drill, reviews were provided by the Chief of the Yotsuya Fire Station, the Mayor of Shinjuku City, the Chairperson of the Shinanomachi Neighborhood Association, and the Hospital Director. Through this drill, we were able to reconfirm the importance of rapid response and regional cooperation during disasters.
Keio University Hospital will continue to fulfill its function as a disaster base hospital and strive to further enhance its disaster prevention capabilities through continuous efforts to create a safe and secure community.
Photography: Aki Takematsu