Japan Nuclear Shelter Association Forum 2025

Governor Koike attended a forum organized by the nonprofit Japan Nuclear Shelter Association on September 25 at the Sabo Kaikan hall in central Tokyo.

In one of the opening messages at the Japan Nuclear Shelter Association Forum 2025, she noted: ”Tokyo embraces a population of 14 million people, and every day three million people commute here for work or study from neighboring prefectures and elsewhere.” 

“Today, the world is in great turmoil,” the governor said. “Our country is surrounded by various kinds of crises ranging from intrusions into Ukraine to the Middle East situation, North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches and such. Therefore, how to protect the lives of people across the nation and in the capital city is the most important point to solve.”

“For some time, I have been administering metropolitan government with ‘defense of the capital’ in mind,” she elaborated. "After revising the Tokyo Metropolitan Civil Protection Plan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been designating emergency temporary evacuation facilities."

“We have already secured facilities enough to accommodate Tokyo’s entire population,” the governor explained.“ “We are working on the double to upgrade facilities so that people can evacuate there more safely,” she said, citing as an example an emergency supplies warehouse  adjacent to a subway station in central Tokyo .

“In addition to these measures for preparedness, pooling the self-help and mutual aid capabilities of each individual will be a great help in times of emergency,” she went on. ”We look forward to your continued cooperation and support.”