Aomori Bousaishi Society

The Aomori Bousaishi Society (NPO法人青森県防災士会) is a specified nonprofit corporation (NPO) based in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, whose members are certified "Bousaishi" — disaster-prevention specialists credentialed through the Japan Bousaishi Organization (日本防災士機構). The organization began as the Aomori Prefecture branch of the Japan Bousaishi Society, holding its branch founding meeting in February 2006, and was formally certified as an NPO in March 2008. Its stated purpose is to promote disaster relief and community safety activities by supporting the activities and technical development of Bousaishi and by raising local residents' awareness of disaster prevention, under the principles of "self-help" (自助) and "mutual help" (共助). The Society operates as a volunteer-based network rather than a commercial enterprise. Its main activities include dispatching disaster-prevention advisors and lecturers to various organizations, supporting disaster-preparedness education for vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, the elderly, and children), participating in government comprehensive disaster drills and school events, working to raise the rate of voluntary disaster-prevention organizations (自主防災組織) in municipalities across the prefecture, and promoting awareness of disaster mitigation and stockpiling measures. It also maintains a mutual-aid agreement with the Miyagi Prefecture branch of the Japan Bousaishi Society and participates in the North Tohoku branch liaison council. Aomori Prefecture faces diverse natural-hazard risks — earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy snow, typhoons, and heavy rain — and the Society positions itself as a flexible responder to changing and diversifying disaster risks. It emphasizes "kojo" (近助, neighborly help) alongside self-help and mutual help, and calls for collaboration (協働) among residents, local governments, companies, schools, and other organizations. The Society also promotes Aomori Prefecture's free Bousaishi dispatch program (a prefectural initiative) that makes certified specialists available for disaster and mitigation lectures and voluntary disaster-organization drills. Membership is open to anyone holding the Bousaishi qualification. The Society provides speaking and training opportunities to members, supports skill development through peer training and lectures, and, in times of disaster, mobilizes members' knowledge and skills. Its leadership has included Jun Kudo, a weather forecaster who initiated the founding preparatory meeting in 2006 and served as the first chair. As of 2025 the representative director is Masao Mine (峯 雅夫). The organization has received recognition including the Tohoku Labour Bank (Rokin) Aomori Headquarters "Rokin 100 Million Yen Fund" incentive award in 2009.

The Aomori Bousaishi Society traces its origins to 2006, when Jun Kudo, a weather forecaster working at the company Apple Weather (有限会社アップルウェザー), called on Bousaishi living in Aomori Prefecture and held a founding preparatory meeting on January 28, 2006. On February 5, 2006, the founding general meeting of the Japan Bousaishi Society Aomori Prefecture Branch was held at La Plus Aomori, with 15 members. Later that year the branch participated in public disaster-prevention events: in August 2006 chair Jun Kudo gave a keynote speech and joined a panel at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Forum 2007, in October he lectured at the Aomori Prefecture Regional Disaster-Prevention Volunteer Mountain Disaster-Prevention Information Activity Training, and in December he participated as a panelist at the Aomori Prefecture Regional Disaster-Prevention Symposium. In 2007 the branch expanded its cooperation and training activities. On January 17, vice-chair Miura lectured at the 5th Aomori City Voluntary Disaster-Prevention Organization Leaders Training. On September 24, 2007, the Aomori branch and the Miyagi branch signed a mutual-aid agreement at a signing ceremony in Sendai. On December 1, 2007, the founding general meeting of the specified nonprofit corporation (NPO) Aomori Bousaishi Society was held at the Aomori City Central Community Center. On March 5, 2008, the organization was certified as a specified nonprofit corporation, with 83 members. In 2009 the Society received external recognition: on September 8, 2009, it was selected as a recipient of the 17th Rokin 100 Million Yen Fund incentive award, and on October 18, 2009, it was honored at the Furusato Ganbarist Forum held at the Aomori Prefecture Labor Welfare Hall. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake marked a major period of activity. The Society conducted fundraising in Aomori City, Hirosaki City, and Towada City; transported relief supplies to Iwate Prefecture using a disaster-activity vehicle donated by Toyota Rent-a-Lease Aomori; participated in the Aomori Prefecture Comprehensive Disaster Drill in Towada City; appeared on the RAB Radio disaster-prevention campaign (through March 25, 2012); and held the founding general meeting of the Japan Bousaishi Society North Tohoku Branch Liaison Council in Aomori City. In 2012 the Society conducted volunteer activities in Miyagi Prefecture and held a resident-participation evacuation-center opening study session and drill in Aomori City. In subsequent years the Society continued to be dispatched and to support disaster response. In 2014 it dispatched Bousaishi to the Disaster Prevention Education Center (Aomori Prefectural Fire School). In 2015 it appeared on NHK disaster-prevention radio and held a 10th-anniversary commemorative ceremony. In 2016 it conducted volunteer work in Iwate Prefecture following Typhoon No. 10 damage and fundraising in Hirosaki City for the Kumamoto earthquake. In 2022 it dispatched Bousaishi to Aomori Prefecture's Nuclear Disaster Prevention Drill, and in 2024 it dispatched Bousaishi under Aomori Prefecture's Bousaishi Dispatch Program. By 2025 the Society had marked the Japan Bousaishi Society's 20th anniversary and continued to operate as its Aomori Prefecture branch. In July 2025 representative director Masao Mine reaffirmed the organization's commitment to promoting disaster-prevention activities based on the spirit of "self-help, mutual help, and collaboration" (自助・共助・協働), adapting flexibly to changing and diversifying disaster risks and working with residents, local governments, companies, schools, and other organizations toward a "safe and secure Aomori." The Society continues to provide lecture and training opportunities to members, support skill development, and mobilize members' knowledge and skills in disasters.

• Founding preparatory meeting held, called by Jun Kudo.

• Japan Bousaishi Society Aomori Prefecture Branch founding general meeting held at La Plus Aomori (15 members).

• Chair Jun Kudo gave a keynote speech and joined a panel at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Forum 2007.

• Lectured at the Aomori Prefecture Regional Disaster-Prevention Volunteer Mountain Disaster-Prevention Information Activity Training.

• Chair Jun Kudo participated as a panelist at the Aomori Prefecture Regional Disaster-Prevention Symposium.

• Vice-chair Miura lectured at the 5th Aomori City Voluntary Disaster-Prevention Organization Leaders Training.

• Mutual-aid agreement signed between the Aomori and Miyagi branches in Sendai.

• Founding general meeting of the NPO Aomori Bousaishi Society held at Aomori City Central Community Center.

• Certified as a specified nonprofit corporation (NPO), with 83 members.

• Selected as a recipient of the 17th Rokin 100 Million Yen Fund incentive award.

• Honored at the Furusato Ganbarist Forum at the Aomori Prefecture Labor Welfare Hall.

• Great East Japan Earthquake: fundraising in Aomori, Hirosaki, and Towada; relief supplies transported to Iwate; participation in Aomori Prefecture Comprehensive Disaster Drill; RAB Radio disaster-prevention campaign appearance; North Tohoku Branch Liaison Council founding meeting.

• Volunteer activities in Miyagi Prefecture; resident-participation evacuation-center opening study session and drill in Aomori City.

• Dispatched Bousaishi to the Disaster Prevention Education Center (Aomori Prefectural Fire School).

• Appeared on NHK disaster-prevention radio; held 10th-anniversary commemorative ceremony.

• Volunteer work in Iwate Prefecture after Typhoon No. 10; fundraising in Hirosaki City for the Kumamoto earthquake.

• Dispatched Bousaishi to Aomori Prefecture's Nuclear Disaster Prevention Drill.

• Dispatched Bousaishi under Aomori Prefecture's Bousaishi Dispatch Program.

• Representative director Masao Mine issued a message reaffirming the Society's mission.

A regional nonprofit network of certified disaster-prevention specialists promoting self-help, mutual help, and neighborly help in Aomori Prefecture.

• Disaster-prevention advisor dispatch

  Dispatch of lecturers and advisors to various organizations as disaster-prevention advisors.

• Disaster-prevention education for vulnerable groups

  Disaster-prevention classes for people with disabilities, the elderly, and children.

• Support for voluntary disaster-prevention organizations

  Work to raise the rate of voluntary disaster-prevention organizations in municipalities across the prefecture.

• Disaster mitigation and stockpiling awareness

  Promotion and awareness-raising for disaster mitigation and stockpiling measures.

• Bousaishi training course information

  Information and referral for Bousaishi training courses in Hirosaki, Hachinohe, and Aomori.

1. 1NPO法人 青森県防災士会 | 主に青森県の防災士が集まり「自助」、「共助」の原則のもとに活動している団体aomoribousaishi.jp
2. 2青森県防災士会とは | NPO法人 青森県防災士会aomoribousaishi.jp
3. 3防災士を知りたい・なりたい | NPO法人 青森県防災士会aomoribousaishi.jp
4. 4Aomori Bousaishi Society - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5青森県防災士会 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org