Last week’s torrential rains were a stark demonstration of Japan’s susceptibility to natural disasters.

As is well known, has there ever been a time when such heavy rain fell over such a wide area?

Landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, rising river levels, and overflowing rivers occurred one after another, causing significant damage in various locations. I myself was paralyzed with shock, unsure of what to do, and could only watch the situation unfold in a daze.

It was fortunate that my company and home were undamaged, but these torrential rains strongly reinforced the feeling that life-threatening disasters are very close at hand.

One could simply dismiss it as abnormal weather, but this summer, disasters have struck in waves, almost as if targeting Japan, making one wonder if some force beyond time and space is at work.

Putting that aside, with such an increase in disasters, disaster preparedness must be reformed. Not only must the nation be strengthened, but organizations and individuals must also strengthen their approach to disasters.

In my case, I keep emergency kits at both my office and home, ready to grab and evacuate at any time, but that alone is probably insufficient.
Currently, the concept of “phase-free,” which breaks down the barriers between peacetime and emergency situations and allows everyday products and services to be used directly during disasters, is beginning to gain traction. It is crucial to further expand this concept and make it commonplace in society.
As phase-free becomes widespread, new business opportunities will arise, such as the creation of solutions, products, and services from various industries that fulfill the requirements of phase-free. As phase-free solutions become more sophisticated through business, the disaster response capabilities of organizations and individuals will also improve.
Japan, a country prone to natural disasters and where these disasters are becoming increasingly severe, should strive to become one of the world’s leading phase-free nations. (Kei Kitajima)

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