Japan Water Forum participates in various ways in water-related events held both in Japan and abroad.
Flood Fighting Drill Tour 2026 was a great success!!
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the 74th Tone River System Combined Flood Fighting Exercise was held in in the Tone River Basin area of Gunma Prefecture. Flood Fighting Exercises are held throughout Japan before the flood season, with the main purpose of passing on flood fighting techniques and raising awareness of disaster prevention in Japan. The Tone River System Combined Flood Fighting Exercise is the largest of its kind in Japan.
The Flood Fighting Exercise Embassy Tour is held to introduce Japan’s flood disaster countermeasures to ambassadors, embassies, and international organizations stationed in Japan representing countries around the world and will be held for the 15th time in 2026.
This year, in conjunction with the above-mentioned Comprehensive Flood Fighting Exercise organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and related local governments, the Japan Water Forum organized this event again this year and invited VIPs from embassies in Tokyo.
Outline of the 74th Tone River System Combined Flood Fighting Exercise:
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Date
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May 16, 2026 (Sat.)
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Venue
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Akaike-chisaki, Chiyoda-cho, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
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Host
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Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Gunma Prefecture, Tochigi Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Kanagawa Prefecture.
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Flood fighting drill
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・Opening Ceremony,
・Exercise Part 1: Flood Fighting Drill (Flood Fighting Method, Evacuation Advisory and Public Information Drill, Supporting Residents’ Flood Fighting Activities, Self-Defense Flood Fighting by Residents, Flood Fighting Support Activities, Cooking Drill, etc.), ・Exercise Part 2: Rescue and Rescue Training, Closing Ceremony |
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Number of participants
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Approx. 8,000 people
*including exercise participants and general visitors |
During this year’s flood control exercise tour organized by the Embassy, in addition to observing the 74th Tone River Basin Joint Comprehensive Flood Control Exercise, we visited Sai-ko Nature Learning Centre, where we attended a lecture on the overview of the Arakawa River basin, the history and methods of flood control through measures such as the construction of regulating reservoirs, and the various uses of the Arakawa River.
Overview of “Flood Fighting Exercise Embassy Tour 2026”
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Purpose of the event
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Providing opportunities for embassy and international organization officials in Tokyo to observe and experience traditional Japanese flood prevention activities
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Host
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Water Management and Land Conservation Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
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Planning & Management
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Japan Water Forum
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Program Overview
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*Observation of flood drills, rescue and first aid drills
*Visit to flood prevention method exhibition, experience of making sandbags and tying ropes, visit to exhibition booths *Visit Sai-ko Nature Learning Centre |
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Participating countries, number of people
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Embassy Tours: 21 participants from 14 countries
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“Flood Fighting Exercise Embassy Tour 2026” participant information
This year, 21 people from 14 countries participated in the event.
Breakdown of participants by region
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Continent/Region
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Number of countries (Number of persons)
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Country
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Africa
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7（12）
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Angola / Benin / Gabon / Kenya / Lesotho / Mozambique / Zambia
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Southeast Asia
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2（4）
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Bangladesh/Thailand
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Middle East
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1（1）
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Iraq
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Europe
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3（3）
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Czech Republic / Iceland / Moldova
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Latin America
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1（1）
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Dominica
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Flood Fighting Exercise Embassy Tour Results
Following last year, this year’s event was also attended by many ambassador-level officials as evidence that countries are increasingly concerned about water-related disasters due to rapid climate change over the past few years.
| Year | Number of Ambassadors | Number of non-ambassadors | Total number of participants |
| 2026 | 3 | 18 | 21 |
| 2025 | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 2019 | 3 | 17 | 20 |
| 2018 | 1 | 28 | 29 |
| 2017 | 5 | 23 | 28 |
| 2016 | 1 | 19 | 20 |
| 2015 | 2 | 23 | 25 |
| 2014 | 1 | 27 | 28 |
| 2013 | 1 | 14 | 15 |
