Do you know what to do if a natural disaster occurs during your trip in Japan?

Due to its geographical and meteorological characteristics, Japan sometimes experiences severe weather and natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. Local governments throughout the country organize extensive emergency drills to make sure the local population is ready should such disasters take place.

Every year in January, Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward conducts such emergency drills. This year, the event will also feature English-language instructions for the benefit of visitors to Japan and foreign residents. Chiyoda Ward would like to invite all to come and take part in this event and help learn the proper procedure to take should a natural disaster occur in Japan.

Emergency Drill Event Details

Date & Schedule
Friday, 15 January 2010　 9:45 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Event Site
JR Akihabara Station area

Drill Contents
Earthquake experience
Message service for disasters
Conveying messages with gestures and pictures
Escaping a disaster in a train station

Schedule

9:45 a.m. - Meeting at Akihabara UDX 2F Akiba Square「Tagengo Shien Center」
10:00 a.m. - Details
10:30 a.m. - Earth Level 7 Experience in Belsare Akihabara
11:00 a.m. - Escaping a disaster in a train station
11:20 a.m. - Wrap-up

Entry Fee: Free (Transportation fees to be borne by participants.)

Event Organizer:
Chiyoda Ward Disaster Prevention Division (External site, Japanese text only)

Last September, I had the chance to join a Sunrise Sumo Tour heading for the Aki Basho, or Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan (usually referred to as the Sumo Hall in English) in Tokyo. Being quite the sumo fan, naturally I was pretty pumped - I always watch the tournaments on TV (all 15 days, if possible), but it was my first time to go see it live.

I went to the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal to meet my group and was immediately struck by the enthusiasm of the guide. She happened to be a big sumo fan as well, and she filled us in on the history and background of sumo as we made our way to the Kokugikan via subway.

Upon arriving at Ryogoku Station, we walked past the monolithic Edo-Tokyo Museum to the Kokugikan and entered through the special group entrance gate. Since it was still pretty warm out, they were handing out free fans, which was a nice little souvenir. Our first stop once inside was the Sumo Museum, a collection of sumo-related objects and pictures from all the way back in the Edo Period to modern times. The guide was once again indispensable, providing all kinds of detailed information about past wrestlers and the objects on display.

After the museum, we had some time before the top-class matches of the day started, so there was time to check out the other offerings of the Kokugikan. There was a place to try a bowl of chanko nabe, a famous kind of stew eaten by sumo wrestlers. There were several large souvenir kiosks selling everything from sumo-themed cookies to t-shirts and cell phone straps of your favorite wrestler (which I bought, actually). Besides the souvenir shops and chanko, there are concession stands selling drinks and snacks (for those of age, enjoying the day's matches with a beer and some popcorn is a rather popular option), and just walking around the Kokugikan during a tournament is an experience in and of itself.

I made my way back to our tour's reserved seats on the second floor mezzanine level just before the top-class matches were to begin. Being a fan of sumo, I always watch it on TV, and I was not just excited about seeing it live, but also curious about the view, sounds, and atmosphere. I was very pleasantly surprised that, even from the mezzanine level, I could see the whole dohyo (ring), hear every hit (they hit hard), and it was easy to get into the action, especially when a particularly popular wrestler was up. My favorite wrestler, Takamisakari, is a crowd favorite thanks in no small part to his sincere, emotional facial expressions and his slightly over-the-top pre-match rituals (most wrestlers maintain a more stoic demeanor). During said rituals, as he pscyches himself up for the imminent match, he pumps his fists and lets out three loud, kiai (kind of like battle cries), and it has become something of a tradition for everyone in the crowd to yell with him in support. I'm happy to report that he won his match that day. As before, the guide continuously provided us with information about the proceedings of the tournament, the wrestlers and matches, and the various ceremonies that take place. We also received small radios with headphones to listen to live commentary on the matches in English.

After the final match of the day and the closing ceremony, the tour was over, and the guide explained to those who needed it about how to get back to their hotels from the Kokugikan. There is another tour plan available which includes a chanko nabe course meal at a local restaurant after the tournament, for those who want to get the full sumo experience (minus the actual wrestling part).

Here are the details for Sunrise's sumo tours:
Sunrise Sumo Tour - Tokyo Tournament (Standard Plan)
Sunrise Sumo Tour - Tokyo Tournament (with Chanko Dinner)

Sumo Tournament Ticket Giveaway!
Also, for those of you that are going to be in Tokyo in February, don't miss your chance to win a pair of tickets to a special, one-day only single-elimination-style sumo tournament! All you have to do is follow us on Twitter or become our fan on Facebook! Or both! For more information about this special event, the 34th Grand Sumo Tournament, and the ticket giveaway, check out this article.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

Myohonji Temple

Photos taken on November 30, 2009
at Kamakura, Kanagawa

Tokyo Hotel and Ryokan Reservations

Photos taken on October 31, 2009
at Lake Shirakaba, Nagano

Lake Shirakaba area Hotel and Ryokan Reservations