Across Japan, during “Disaster Prevention Day” on September 1st, various disaster drills were held at schools and companies all over the country. The date remembers the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923 – and after the March 11th earthquakes in 2011, it is more important than ever.

Some GABA staff have been sent to the “Earthquake Simulator” in Ikebukuro, this year, but instructors are still inexperienced and unprepared. This is of particular concern in regards to lessons with children, as GABA has some very young children attending lessons on a regular (if not daily) basis.

Because of this, the General Union has again asked for the company to improve preparations for disasters, in case of fire, earthquake, or any other problem that might occur.

On August 20th, GABA stated that they will “have a disaster drill in English more often, and offer a chance for instructors to acquire knowledge on what to do in an emergency.”

This is a positive sentiment, and the Union hopes GABA improves emergency preparations quickly as, currently, GABA is woefully and dangerously unprepared for disasters, leaving both their clients and instructors vulnerable to injury – or worse – in the future.

If you’re concerned about the lack of disaster and evacuation training at GABA, contact the General Union at:

Have you witnessed this problem with your own eyes? Share your experiences on our official Facebook page at:

 September 10, 2015