#Japan #Tokyo #KDDI #JX Communications #FASTALERT

JX Communications and KDDI: A Game Changer in Disaster Management

In a significant move to bolster disaster preparedness, JX Communications, a Tokyo-based tech venture specializing in media, is collaborating with KDDI Corporation to enhance their upcoming disaster response tool, the "Disaster Map Board." Beginning on October 1, 2025, this tool will provide municipalities with vital information needed during disasters, integrating real-time data from JX's innovative AI disaster information collection system, "FASTALERT."

Understanding the Disaster Map Board

The "Disaster Map Board," developed by KDDI, is designed to strengthen disaster response capacities across municipalities, especially in the face of large-scale calamities like the Nankai Trough mega-earthquake. This cutting-edge service encompasses a wide range of disaster-related information, including rain cloud radar, live camera feeds, hazard maps, and real-time updates on the number of evacuees, all visualized on a unified digital map.

Since 2024, JX Communications has been actively involved in workshops hosted by KDDI aimed at exploring how municipalities can effectively utilize the Disaster Map Board. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in shaping the tool's development by leveraging JX's expertise in real-time risk detection and reporting.

The Power of FASTALERT

Through the API of JX’s FASTALERT, disaster-related data—sourced from user reports on social media and KDDI’s own news application, "NewsDigest"—will be dynamically reflected on the Disaster Map Board. This integration is poised to empower municipal staff by providing them with real-time insights into ongoing disaster situations and public feedback, which are often challenging to gauge directly from the field. Consequently, officials can make informed decisions regarding evacuation route planning, shelter operations, and prioritizing recovery efforts.

It is important to note that the use of FASTALERT’s data will be an optional feature for municipalities. For further details regarding the service, please visit KDDI's official website here.

About JX Communications

JX Communications, founded with the vision of "creating news that moves 100 million people," is a pioneer in delivering real-time risk information derived from extensive datasets, including social media. Their flagship services include FASTALERT, which provides trustworthy real-time alerts about domestic and international disasters, accidents, and incidents, and the citizen-participatory news application, NewsDigest, which rewards users for sharing local news.

Since its launch, FASTALERT has gained wide acceptance, being adopted by numerous media outlets like NHK and other major broadcasting networks within its first seven months. Furthermore, it is increasingly utilized by private sectors for business continuity planning (BCP) as well as by governmental bodies for disaster management.

Fast and Reliable News with NewsDigest

NewsDigest is a rapidly-responsive news application that ensures users receive timely alerts on a variety of topics, including disasters and transportation updates. It has surpassed 6 million downloads and was recognized as a Best App by Google Play in 2019 in the Life Utility category. It also received a special award in the COVID-19 related project category at the 2020 Asia Digital Media Awards.

For more information about JX Communications and its services, please visit here.

Conclusion

The collaboration between JX Communications and KDDI marks a significant advancement in community disaster response efforts, making critical information accessible and actionable in real-time to better protect and serve communities across Japan. This partnership exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to improve public safety and enhance disaster resilience.