Insurance Industry’s First Disaster Risk Reduction Service for Local Governments

To prevent losses for citizens due to natural disasters, local governments need to take timely actions, such as issuing evacuation order. Meanwhile, costs may arise (such as costs to open shelters) even if a disaster does not occur at the magnitude that was anticipated, so local governments face challenges in deciding when to issue evacuation order or other guidance if they aim to minimize losses for the community. In this context, Sompo Japan has developed services to support local governments in creating rapid response systems, by providing insurance to compensate them for costs associated with the issuance of evacuation order and other guidance, and by providing weather and response information.
Hundreds of local governments have already purchased the insurance since it was launched.

They will keep developing and expanding this product and service to improve disaster resilience, and collaborate with stakeholders to realize a safer, more secure world.

Bosai JAPAN-DA Project to Raise Disaster Awareness

Given that insurance is one of our core businesses, Sompo Japan focuses on raising public awareness of disasters. In the Bosai JAPAN-DA Project, we host puppet shows and experience-based workshops to teach children — society’s future leaders — and their guardians how to protect themselves and others in emergency situations.

The puppet show, performed by the Yumemi Trunk Puppet Theater Troupe, is an original adaptation of The Three Little Pigs. It tells the story of how the three pigs help each other to overcome various calamities (wind, rain, lightning, fire, etc.) caused by the big bad wolf. Also, in the experience-based workshop, provided in partnership with the NPO Plus Arts, participants get to move their arms and bodies in fun ways and take part in a quiz, all the while gaining useful knowledge and skills for responding to crises.

Since the fiscal year 2020, with the aim of preventing the spread of COVID-19, we have prepared videos, worksheets, and information material for guardians and teachers that can be viewed online or downloaded. We hope these materials will be put to good use at home or in schools.

As of March 2022, these events have been held 376 times across Japan attracting 57,000 people.