High School Students Summit on World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 Held in Sendai

From November 27 to 28, the High School Students Summit on World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 took place in Sendai. The event was co-hosted by Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and other entities. High school students from 10 countries participated, including 61 students from Japan and 27 from overseas.

Students Explore Tsunami History and Disaster Risk Reduction

During the summit, participants studied the history of tsunamis in Japan and reviewed various initiatives related to disaster risk reduction. They took part in discussions organized into three thematic groups focusing on Build Back Better, Multi-Stakeholder participation in disaster risk reduction, and Passing on lessons learned and fostering a culture of disaster resilience. The outcomes of the workshops were compiled, leading to the announcement of the Summit Declaration.

Opening Ceremony Address by Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI Arfiya

At the opening ceremony and reception on November 27, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan ERI Arfiya delivered remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She referred to disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and highlighted the importance of disaster risk reduction in advancing sustainable development. She also conveyed her hope that the summit would help strengthen the Kizuna, or bonds, among the attending students.

Participants Expected to Apply Insights in Their Home Countries

Students are expected to take the knowledge and experiences gained from the summit back to their respective countries and contribute as future leaders in the field of disaster risk reduction.