National Mutual Aid Agricultural Cooperative Association Comedian Chihara Junior and talent Yuchami will be appearing at the “JA Mutual Aid Digital Disaster Prevention Training Presentation”!

[National Mutual Aid Agricultural Cooperative Association] Comedian Chihara Junior and talent Yuchami will be appearing at the “JA Mutual Aid Digital Disaster Prevention Training Presentation”! ​ National Mutual Aid Agricultural Cooperative Federation Press release: August 29, 2025 Comedian Chihara Junior and talent Yuchami will be appearing at the “JA Kyosai Digital Disaster Prevention Training Presentation”! ~They spoke passionately about their thoughts on disaster prevention and their desire to protect their loved ones~ JA Kyosai Ren (National Federation of Mutual Aid Agricultural Cooperatives, Chairman and Representative Director Murayama Yoshihiko) held the “JA Kyosai Digital Disaster Prevention Training Presentation” on Thursday, August 28th, to coincide with the announcement of the “Digital Disaster Prevention Training” released within the JA Kyosai app. Guests included comedian Junior Chihara, talent Yuchami, and disaster prevention expert Yasuo Matsushima, who shared their respective disaster prevention awareness and disaster prevention training experiences.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-4f93770c52dfead99b9a907dff56de76-3900×2599.jpg

[From left: Matsushima, Chihara Junior, JA Zenkyoren Chairman Murayama, JA Zenkyoren Executive Director Ono, and Yuchami] ■ Event details At the beginning, JA Zenkyoren Chairman and Representative Director Yoshihiko Murayama took the stage and said, “Japan is a country prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons. However, our survey found that there are approximately 65 million people in Japan who have not participated in a disaster prevention drill for more than three years. While many people feel they should, the reality is that they often find it difficult to do so due to their busy schedules. ‘Digital Disaster Prevention Drills’ are disaster prevention drills that can be easily completed anytime, anywhere with just a smartphone. We hope that this initiative will help raise disaster prevention awareness in as many people as possible.” Next, Junior Chihara, Yuchami, and Yasuo Matsushima, representative of the Disaster Risk Assessment Institute, took the stage and demonstrated a digital disaster prevention drill. First, the “Disaster Prevention Map Feature,” which allows users to easily find evacuation sites near their current location, was introduced. Junior Chihara commented, “It’s reassuring to just look at this when I go into my dressing room. It’s really easy to use. Since my job requires me to go to different places every day, it would be great if I could get used to looking at this app.” Yuchami continued, “I often go to Shibuya for filming, and I think it’s very convenient to have such an easy-to-understand guide to where to evacuate.” She spoke about the appeal and convenience of digital disaster prevention training. Matsushima also commented, “Due to the impact of COVID-19, disaster prevention training with large gatherings has become less common. I think this is one of the reasons why JA Kyosai developed this app.” She spoke about recent trends in disaster prevention training in Japan, as well as the trend toward self-help disaster prevention training. She also spoke about the importance of raising disaster prevention awareness on an individual level.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-e268ece916e7e470fbb34cea7b16c068-3900×2601.jpg Afterwards, in reference to the fact that this digital disaster prevention training could be sent to loved ones living far away via the LINE app, two guests used a flip chart to announce the “loved person to whom they would like to send a disaster prevention training.” First, Yuchami answered “family.” Commenting on her family living far away, she said, “My mom and I have a dog in Osaka, so I feel a bit uneasy, and I hope this app can help ease that anxiety.” Next, Chihara Junior also answered “family.” Regarding the fact that both of them had the same answer, he commented, “That’s what it comes down to! And then all my friends! (laughs),” expressing that, like Yuchami, he would like to give disaster prevention training to his most important family members.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-9038b882d941a258cc8dd5bf730d1081-3900×2601.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-6c3a96b92aa2164d0c29c41325a08025-3900×2601.jpg Towards the end of the event, when asked about his impressions of the digital disaster prevention training experience, Chihara Junior commented, “If we can spread the word about this app to as many people as possible and raise everyone’s disaster prevention awareness even just a little, I think it will lead to a life filled with love, so I hope everyone will use it.” Yuchami continued, “While there aren’t many opportunities for hands-on disaster prevention training, the JA Kyosai app now offers digital disaster prevention training, so I hope everyone will take advantage of it. I hope everyone will share evacuation locations with their precious families.” She commented that the event had raised her disaster prevention awareness, and the event came to a close. ​■Q&A session
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-6d5ba8c3a9f693bf3c3f42d5be832abd-3900×2601.jpg
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/51085/23/51085-23-24f12fb3ba60fd8609541e4c4d43556a-3900×2601.jpg Q1. Please tell us your thoughts on today’s event and the digital disaster prevention training. “First of all, I think it’s great that disaster prevention drills can be conducted digitally, which is in line with the times. And, of course, the fact that it’s free to use makes it easy to spread, which is a good thing.” “The app itself has a really cute design, and I think people of my generation will really enjoy the familiar format of an app.” Q2. What was the most memorable aspect of this digital disaster prevention training? “I think it’s really reassuring to know in an instant where I need to go if an emergency occurs, based on where I am right now.” “I was very grateful to have the opportunity to reassess my own disaster preparedness awareness. There were many things I was able to reassess during today’s event, so I was very grateful.” Q3. After today’s event, how has your awareness of disaster preparedness changed? “It’s the parents’ responsibility to protect their children, as well as themselves, but I think we really need to be more conscious of this. Thank you again for inviting me to this event, which taught me so much.” “I thought you were originally interested in disaster prevention and had looked at a lot of information, but I found a lot to reconsider. After all, there are so many different disaster prevention products out there, so I realized it’s important to find the ones that suit you.” Q4. Digital Disaster Prevention Training has a function that allows you to send it via LINE. Would you like to spread the word about “Disaster Prevention Training on Your
Smartphone” to your friends of the same generation and loved ones? “Of course we should know about this, but I also think our parents’ generation should know about it, so I want to pass it on to them.” “Of course, I want to spread the word to everyone. After all, for people my sister’s generation and teenagers, it’s important to be interested in disaster prevention, and a cute design is important, so I think this app is incredibly useful in that respect, and I want to spread the word about that as well.” Q5. Do you have any “personal disaster preparedness items” that you absolutely must have in your disaster preparedness bag? “I guess in this day and age it’s the battery.” “Water, batteries, and helmets are important, but I also think that easy-to-eat sweets like yokan are important.” Q6. Please share your impressions of participating in this event and a message to everyone across the country. “Even now, I’m a very different person from an hour ago (laughs)” I think I’ve gotten a little tougher. I hope everyone will try out this app.” “Since we never know when a disaster will strike, I hope to use this app to raise my own awareness of disaster prevention.” ■About “Digital Disaster Prevention Drill” In recent years, with the frequent occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes and heavy rains in Japan, members and users’ concerns about disasters have been growing year by year. The “Digital Disaster Prevention Training,” now available within the JA Kyosai app, allows users to simulate a disaster on their smartphone, from the actions they should take in the event of a disaster to rebuilding their lives afterward. You can experience the entire process from a disaster occurrence to rebuilding your life afterward, while simulating a real-life situation, by checking the disaster risk in your area, identifying the nearest evacuation shelter, checking the virtual damage situation, and going through the process of claiming insurance benefits. For more information about the “Digital Disaster Prevention Training,” please refer to the news release below. “Digital Disaster Prevention Training” now available on the JA Kyosai app URL: https://www.ja-kyosai.or.jp/files/2025/202508-12.pdf Press release attachments