The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department conducted large-scale rescue drills at the Arakawa River to prepare for earthquakes and typhoon-driven flooding [1].
These exercises are critical as Tokyo faces persistent threats from a potential direct-hit earthquake and extreme weather events that can paralyze the capital's infrastructure. By simulating high-stress environments, the department aims to reduce response times and improve the coordination of emergency personnel during actual crises [1].
During the training, officials utilized a "flooded house" model installed on the riverbank to simulate realistic rescue conditions [1, 3]. Police officers used jet skis and security patrol boats to navigate the water and extract simulated victims from the structure [1, 2]. The drills focused on the technical challenges of operating heavy equipment and rescue gear in moving water, a scenario common during the city's severe rain events [1].
The urgency of the training follows a period of extreme weather. Reports indicate that 12-hour precipitation levels in central Tokyo reached a record high this June [1]. This unprecedented rainfall underscored the vulnerability of the city's drainage and river systems, making water-based rescue proficiency a priority for the Metropolitan Police.
Supervising the operation, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency emphasized the unpredictability of natural calamities. The commissioner said, "Disasters occur regardless of time and place, and I want everyone to work fully so that the necessary response can be made at any time" [1].
The exercise integrated various units to ensure that communication between boat operators and ground crews remains seamless. By practicing in the Arakawa riverbed, the department tested the agility of its aquatic fleet in constrained environments [1, 2].
“"Disasters occur regardless of time and place,"”
This exercise reflects a strategic shift toward 'all-hazard' preparedness in Tokyo. By combining earthquake simulations with flood-specific rescue tactics, the police are acknowledging that modern disasters are often compound events—where a seismic shift may be followed by storm surges or river breaches. The focus on record-breaking rainfall suggests that the city is recalibrating its emergency baselines to account for more frequent and severe climate-driven weather patterns.
