October 30, 2020 Demonstration of Transmitting Disaster-related Information by Digital Signage

To verify an appropriate display method of disaster-related information, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will conduct a regional demonstration of transmitting disaster-related information using digital signage in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and Nagoya-shi, Aichi.

1. Purpose

In times of disaster, it is necessary to accurately and promptly convey disaster-related information, such as information on evacuation shelters and evacuation sites, to all people, including those other than residents, and urge their appropriate evacuation actions. These actions are particularly necessary for areas, such as large cities and tourist spots, where many people flow in from the outside. Digital signage has a significant visual effect. Therefore, it is considered very useful in transmitting information to foreign travelers who are unfamiliar with local information.
Besides, L-Alert is a common platform for transmitting disaster-related information issued by local governments all at once, quickly and efficiently. By transmitting disaster-related information, such as L-alert information, through digital signage, it is possible to encourage the evacuation of various people, including foreign travelers. At present, there is room for dissemination and expansion of the transmission of disaster-related information in multiple languages. MIC has been studying the display of disaster-related information in digital signage, including how it should be displayed in multiple languages. With consideration of this result, MIC will conduct the following demonstration project for fiscal 2020.

2.Details of demonstration project

MIC will conduct a disaster information display experiment for digital signage installed in two areas with different characteristics. One of them is Tokyo’s Shibuya area, the most densely populated area in Japan, where many foreign tourists, commuters, and commercial facility users (including foreign residents in Japan) gather. The other one is the area in front of Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture, where many foreign tourists visiting Japan and long-distance travelers using the Shinkansen come and go. Specifically, assuming that L-Alert or other media have delivered disaster information before the occurrence of a disaster (typhoon or major earthquake) and several hours after the occurrence, a display experiment will be conducted for residents around the digital signage. MIC will evaluate the usability and functionality of monitors. In case of stormy weather, the schedule may be changed.

  1. 1.
    Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Shibuya Scramble Square Vision)
    Implementation time and date
    Early morning on Wednesday, November 11, 2020
  2. 2.
    Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture (LIGHTNING WAVE NAGY at Shinkansen Nagoya Station)
    Implementation time and date
    Early morning on Tuesday, November 17, 2020
  • (* The schedule may change in case of stormy weather)

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924