The Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Center: Spreading Disaster Prevention Knowledge With "Plain Japanese"

In Japan, which is prone to natural disasters, we never know when earthquakes, floods, or fires will strike us.　There are three Life Safety Learning Centers in Tokyo. At these facilities, you can have fun while learning about disaster prevention knowledge and skills; through experiences such as, earthquake tremors, initial fire extinction, first aid, and evacuation from fire smoke. Of these, the Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Center attracts a large number of foreign nationals, with about one in four visitors being non-Japanese. Since this facility originally targeted people of all ages - for disaster drills at schools, town councils, and neighborhood associations - all staff members have made sure to speak in an easy-to-understand manner.

Since 2018, all staff have taken the training of "Plain Japanese" and have tried to be prepared. And, in 2020, the "Hospitality Manual for Foreign Nationals at the Fire Museum and Life Safety Learning Centers" was created.

1. Current status and data on foreign residents and visitors to Japan
2. Guidelines on how to communicate with foreign nationals
3. Practical conversation text book
4. Emergency response

The content of the manual is as above. It is said that more foreign nationals come to the center as tourists than as residents. The center sometimes receives questions like, "would it be better to explain things in English, if there are many foreign nationals present?". However, since the Life Safety Learning Center aims to ensure the safety of the people of Tokyo, the instructor's explanations are basically in "Plain Japanese".

Notices and posters in the center are in "Plain Japanese," English, Chinese, and Korean. Illustrations are also included to make them easier to understand. Many of the foreign nationals who visited the facility said that there were many things they did not know, and that it was a valuable experience for them. The Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Center is a place where you can increase your knowledge of disaster prevention while having fun. If you haven't visited it yet, please do so.