KURE, Hiroshima -- A 10-year-old boy in this western Japan city received the "family disaster preparedness special award" for fiscal 2024 in a certification exam to test children's knowledge about disasters and methods to stay safe.

Haruki Oku, a fifth grader at the municipal Shoyamada Elementary School in the city of Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, experienced the torrential rains that lashed western Japan in 2018. With a strong interest in disaster preparedness, he frequents disaster prevention centers. A smiling Haruki commented, "The more I learn about disaster preparedness, the less scary disasters feel."

To achieve his goal of becoming a certified disaster prevention expert, Haruki, inspired by a TV show, decided to take the Junior Bosai Kentei (JBK) disaster prevention test organized by the general incorporated foundation Bosai Kyoiku Suishin Kyokai, literally meaning disaster preparedness education promotion association.

The JBK includes a written exam and an independent research project that test-takers must work on with their family or community. For the project, Haruki simulated a scenario involving heavy downpours caused by a linear precipitation zone. He summarized a report on his experience of "vertical evacuation" at home by fleeing to the second floor.

Haruki spent a day as if essential services had been cut off -- no running water or electricity -- and cooked curry using a portable gas stove and instant rice. He also held a "best emergency toilet championship" by testing three types of emergency toilets and rating them based on factors like odor and durability.

Haruki said he learned some practical lessons through the experience: "It's important to know exactly where your emergency supplies are and how many of each item you have. I also found out that you will have trouble using an emergency toilet when needed if you don't try it out beforehand."

According to the association, about 200 of the 1,251 participants taking the beginner level exam were selected for the special award. Haruki's entry was deemed particularly outstanding, and he was given the opportunity to present his project at the awards ceremony in Tokyo at the end of March. There, he shared his findings in his research project and added, "I want to repeat the (evacuation) drill in different seasons and at different times of day."

Haruki first experienced a fear of disasters when heavy rains hit western Japan in July 2018. He was 3 at the time when his home was flooded. He was deeply worried about his father Takehito, who hadn't returned home a day after the downpours. Although Haruki's neighborhood escaped severe damage, the family had to use stored water from plastic containers and live under unusual conditions for a while.

A few months later on a preschool field trip, Haruki visited a disaster prevention center in the city where visitors can experience disaster simulations such as torrential rain. His mother Hitomi recalled, "Compared to the other children, he was extremely terrified."

After entering elementary school, Haruki began reading books about disaster preparedness and requested his family to take him to visit places including Hokudan Earthquake Memorial Park in Hyogo Prefecture and a disaster prevention center in Tokyo.

Haruki enjoys working on various disaster-related individual research projects for school assignments. In third grade, he got the idea to conduct shaking tests on building models created from cardboard and tested to see how different placements and numbers of "bracing" beams affected structural strength. In fourth grade, he analyzed how a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami might impact the area around Kure Port.

His twin brother, Asahi, who helped to create the building models, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "It's fun to do the experiments together and learn new things."

Haruki sometimes discusses the predicted megaquake along the Nankai Trough with his classmates. He has come to believe that "it's not so scary if you're prepared ahead of time."

With a dream of becoming a seismologist, a determined Haruki said, "I want to engage in activities to help kids prepare for disasters and not be so afraid."

(Japanese original by Chinami Takeichi, Hiroshima Bureau)