On 31 October 2025, Kyoto University's International Student Division held this semester’s disaster prevention workshop for international students, in collaboration with the Kyoto Prefectural International Center and with support from the Sakyo Fire Department.
In the first part of the workshop, Dr Rudy Salgarolo, representative director of the Multicultural Symbiosis NETWORK, delivered a lecture on Japan's emergency alert levels, actions to take in the event of a disaster, and essential preparedness measures such as maintaining an emergency evacuation bag.
In part two, following a briefing by the Sakyo Fire Department staff on how to respond to earthquakes, participants boarded an 'earthquake simulation vehicle' to experience tremors equivalent to about six or seven on the Japanese seismic scale. The simulation highlighted the importance of knowing what actions are and are not possible during a quake and of maintaining constant awareness of the need to be prepared to ensure one's own safety.
The final segment of the training was a fire drill focused on the use of water extinguishers. The session taught the students not just the proper use of the devices but also some of the basic fire-response steps, including shouting loudly to alert others of the emergency and attract help.
The workshop proved highly beneficial, deepening participants' awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness as a key to ensuring a safe and secure study experience in Japan.
