Disaster Response Japan Project #64783

Emergency Response to Noto Peninsula Earthquake

by Japan Heart

Emergency Response to Noto Peninsula Earthquake

Project Report | Dec 24, 2025
Progress Report 5

By By Japan Heart | Project Leader

Overview

From October to December 2025, Japan Heart continued comprehensive support activities across Japan, responding to evolving community needs and strengthening disaster preparedness and long-term health initiatives. During this reporting period, our teams conducted rehabilitation visits and community salon events in Noto following the earthquake’s ongoing aftermath, participated in high-level disaster nursing conferences to enhance disaster response capacity, and supported local health checkups and resident outreach programs. We also engaged in public-facing charity events such as the “Santa Force” Christmas project to bring joy to children with pediatric cancer and their families, and contributed to discussions on disaster nursing at the Japan Disaster Nursing Society Annual Conference, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable, people-centered care. These collective efforts reflect Japan Heart’s mission to deliver healthcare where it is needed most and support communities as they recover and build resilience.

Key Updates & Achievements

Continued Community Outreach in the Noto Peninsula (early October
Japan Heart continued its medical and psychosocial support activities for residents affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Through home visits and community-based gatherings, staff carefully listened to residents’ voices while monitoring both physical and mental health conditions.
Achievement: By maintaining consistent presence in the community, trust with residents deepened, allowing early identification of health and social concerns that often go unnoticed in prolonged recovery phases.
Strengthening Local Disaster Response Capacity (mid-October)
In cooperation with local stakeholders, Japan Heart attended “The 27^th Annual Conference of Japan Society of Disaster Nursing” in Tokyo. We participated in disaster preparedness initiatives aimed at reinforcing coordination among medical, welfare, and disaster-response actors.
Achievement: These efforts helped improve shared understanding of roles during emergencies and contributed to smoother collaboration in future disaster responses.
Mid to Long-term Support for Isolated and Vulnerable Residents (early November)
Outreach activities focused on residents living alone or facing prolonged displacement, particularly older adults in temporary housing. Medical staff and volunteers provided check-ins, consultations, and emotional support.
Achievement: Regular follow-ups helped prevent health deterioration and reduced feelings of isolation among residents still struggling long after the initial disaster.
Italian-Style Evacuation Shelter Pilot in Saga Prefecture (mid-November)
Japan Heart participated in a pilot project in Saga Prefecture to demonstrate the operation of an Italian-style evacuation shelter, emphasizing dignity, privacy, and health-conscious living conditions during disasters.
Achievement: The pilot generated practical insights into humane shelter management models, contributing knowledge applicable to future large-scale disaster preparedness nationwide.
2025 - Continued Community Engagement and Health Monitoring (early December)
Community salons and outreach visits were held to provide spaces where residents could talk openly about daily concerns, health issues, and emotional stress in Monzen-machi, Wajima city.
Achievement: These activities supported mental well-being and reinforced community connections, which are essential for long-term recovery.
2025 - Earthquake Preparedness Training in Kochi Prefecture (Nankai Trough Scenario) (early December)
Japan Heart took part in a large-scale disaster preparedness drill in Kochi Prefecture, assuming a future Nankai Trough Earthquake. The training focused on medical response, coordination, and realistic disaster scenarios.
Achievement: Lessons learned from the drill strengthened readiness for one of Japan’s most anticipated large-scale disasters, reinforcing Japan Heart’s commitment to “not stopping medical care” even in extreme situations.

Upcoming Goals

In the Noto Peninsula, many residents continue to live in temporary housing, facing prolonged physical, emotional, and social challenges long after the earthquake.

Japan Heart will continue to work closely with local public health nurses to organize regular community salon activities that create safe spaces for connection, dialogue, and mutual support.

These gatherings not only help rebuild social ties but also play an important role in identifying emerging health concerns related to medical care, nursing needs, and social welfare.

Moving forward, we remain committed to listening carefully to the voices of the community and responding flexibly to what is truly needed on the ground, ensuring that no one is left behind during the long road to recovery.

Acknowledgement

We sincerely thank all supporters who have stood with us since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Your kindness enables us not only to deliver medical and social support but also to walk alongside the community as it rebuilds.

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Sep 8, 2025
Progress Report 4

By By Japan Heart | Project Leader

Overview

Following up our previous report, we would like to share an update on our ongoing support activities from May to August 2025 for those affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
It has now been approximately one year and seven months since the disaster drastically changed the living conditions of the local residents. Having been involved since immediately after the earthquake and building relationships over this extended period, our continued efforts are now bearing meaningful results.

Key Updates & Achievements

Community Bonding and Health Support through “Chat Café” (May to July 2025)
From May to July, we continued “Chat Café” activities in Noto Town and Wajima City, with more than 300 residents participating. These gatherings provided a safe space for conversation and mutual support, while also expanding into basic health checks (blood pressure, body temperature, heatstroke prevention advice) and rehabilitation visits by physical therapists. This integration of medical and social support helped sustain both the physical and emotional well-being of residents in temporary housing.

Rehabilitation Home Visits (April to August 2025)
Japan Heart conducted rehabilitation home visits for residents in temporary housing. These visits focused on maintaining or improving physical function and adapting to daily life. For example, individuals who experienced reduced mobility after hospitalization were assisted with care beds and mobility guidance, enabling them to regain independence and engage more comfortably in daily activities.

Workshops for Sustainable Disaster Medicine (Early August 2025)
A rehearsal for the 15th Disaster Volunteer Registration Training was held, with 17 participants including staff, new hires, and returning volunteers.
Following this, Japan Heart organized a rehabilitation training session and a medical equipment workshop for local healthcare professionals.
This included training on the Join Mobile Clinic (JMC), a portable medical system first introduced during our support for the Myanmar earthquake allowing staff to practice its use for remote consultations and rapid on-site medical support.
These initiatives aimed to build a sustainable disaster medicine model, ensuring that skills and knowledge can continue to be applied in the community long after initial relief efforts.

Participation in Kochi Prefecture Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Drill (August 18, 2025)
Japan Heart joined the nationwide Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Drill in Kochi Prefecture, simulating large-scale post-disaster medical support. By applying lessons learned in Noto, we enhanced coordination with local authorities and strengthened readiness for future emergencies.

Closing of the Matsunami “Chat Café” (August 29, 2025)
After over a year of continuous support, the Matsunami “Chat Café” held its final session. Residents and staff reflected on how it had become a vital place for emotional connection and daily encouragement. Many expressed deep gratitude, affirming the importance of sustained community-based support in long-term recovery.

Upcoming Goals

Currently, in collaboration with local public health nurses, we regularly organize short-term events (salon activities) aimed at fostering community-building among residents living in temporary housing and identifying potential health-related issues, including those related to medical care, nursing, and social welfare.
As of August 2025, the cumulative number of participants in these salon activities has exceeded 1,200. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts by listening closely to everyone’s voice and constantly asking ourselves what kind of support is truly needed on the ground.

Acknowledgement

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May 13, 2025
Progress Report 3

By By Japan Heart | Project Leader

[Overview]

Following up on our previous report, we would like to share an update on our ongoing support activities from January to April 2025 for those affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

It has now been approximately one year and three months since the disaster drastically changed the living conditions of the local residents. Having been involved since immediately after the earthquake and building relationships over this extended period, our continued efforts are now bearing meaningful results.

[Key Updates and Achievements]

Daily Life Support: Snow Removal in Response to Heavy Snowfall

In late February 2025, heavy snowfall hit the Noto region, creating conditions that required early morning snow removal.To help ensure that residents could go out safely, we assisted with clearing snow around temporary housing units. We focused especially on areas where elderly individuals lived alone or where snow removal was insufficient or difficult. Efforts included clearing stairs and ramps frequently used by many residents, helping to create a safer and more comfortable environment for the community.

A two-day basic life support (BLS) training was conducted at a junior high school in Noto Town on February 25 to 26, 2025

Basic Life Support (BLS) training was conducted for a total of 68 students at Matsunami Junior High School and Noto Junior High School in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture. As part of Japan Heart’s relief efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, this program aimed to provide children in the region with the opportunity to learn first aid skills for use in emergencies and disasters. The training also served as a chance for students to interact with university students close to their age, helping them to reflect on their future career paths through hands-on learning and personal connection.

Aftermath of Oku-Noto Heavy Rain Disaster

March 2025 marked six months since the heavy rain disaster that struck Oku-Noto in September 2024. As of January 2025, many roads remained collapsed and numerous houses were still completely destroyed. However, by March, road repair work was underway in various locations, and the number of cleared and restored houses had increased, signaling gradual progress in recovery. That said, the lingering scars of landslides are still visible, serving as a stark reminder of the scale and severity of the flood damage.

“Chat Café” was held from January to April, 2025

Monthly activities have been held in Noto Town and Wajima City from January through April. During the April sessions, we connected with a total of 178 individuals—94 through home visits and 84 at the “Chat Café” venues. Some residents, after seeing footage of the earthquake in Myanmar in March, were deeply affected; the images brought back memories of the Noto earthquake, leaving them feeling emotionally unsettled. At the Chatter Café, we aim to provide a space where people can share and release such emotions, even just a little. In addition to nurse-led home visits, we have also implemented support visits from physical therapists. These focus on residents whose mobility and physical function have declined due to the limited living environment in temporary housing, providing care from a rehabilitation perspective.

[Upcoming Goals]

Sustained Support Through “Chatter Café”: The Role of Empathetic Medical Outreach

As of January 2025, the cumulative number of participants in these salon activities has exceeded 1,000. It has now been one year and four months since Japan Heart began its activities in Noto. Moving forward, we will continue our efforts by listening closely to each individual’s voice and constantly asking ourselves what kind of support is truly needed on the ground.

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