On 22nd March 2016, – Tokyo, Japan – Nonprofit Corporation Plaja Mr Hiromichi Kanke Chairman visited the Cabinet office with Mr Jitetsu Nara from The Japan Buddhist Federation and 2 others to take exchange opinions for the World Tsunami Day.
In December 2015, A U.N. committee unanimously adopted a motion by Japan to designate Nov. 5th as world tsunami day to promote awareness of the threats posed by high waves.
Nov. 5th was chosen because of what happened that day in 1854 when a tsunami devastated part of Wakayama Prefecture. The event is remembered because of the heroic actions of local resident Goryo Hamaguchi, who lit a series of fires to guide people to higher ground and safety just before the tsunami hit.
We exchanged opinions of the Cabinet office to consider the proposal to hold a memorial service on the World Tsunami Day. We have sponsored by the memorial service for Indian Ocean Tsuami Victims in Phuket every year.
Circumstances which led to exchange of opinions are, in February this year, the 12th Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Phuket, Thailand, that Mr Nishikawa Cabinet Secretariat was attended from Japan. And we received a request for worship from Embassy of Japan in Thailand, we were allowed to exchange views on disaster prevention.
We will proceed with careful consideration about changing the date of memorial service for Indian Ocean Tsunami Victims. We would appreciate if we get various advice and opinions from you.

Place: The Cabinet Office, Japan
Mr Kaoru Saito Counsellor for Disaster Management, Mr Kazuaki Sakurada Chief examiner for Cabinet Office companies such as business continuity, Mr Takashi Sakuma Senior policy researcher

Visitors:
Mr Jitetsu Nara, The Japan Buddhist Federation
Mr Hiromichi Kanke Chairman, Mr Keisuke Kagemoto Vice president, Ms Yuko Todaka PR from Nonprofit Corporation Plaja.