#Japan #disaster relief #Toshima #Toshima Ward #School Meals

Toshima Ward's Commitment to Disaster Preparedness

On July 28, Toshima Ward officials signed an important agreement at the Ward Office with ten school meal service providers, focusing on disaster relief cooking during times of emergency. This initiative is designed to improve the quality of meals offered in evacuation centers, addressing the inadequacies presented during crises where only room-temperature meals were previously available.

Background of the Agreement

The participating companies are already contracted to provide meal services to local primary and middle schools within Toshima Ward. Local governments, including Toshima, have faced challenges in providing hot meals in evacuation centers. Traditionally, these centers often only offered meals at room temperature, raising concerns about nutrition and overall quality during prolonged evacuations. The newly signed agreement aims to rectify this through collaboration with various meal service companies, enhancing the living conditions of those affected by disasters.

Key Provisions of the Agreement

The agreement stipulates that in the event of a disaster within Toshima Ward, should the need arise for support from contracted meal service providers, they will be called upon to prepare warm, nutritious meals using the facilities of the school kitchens. This proactive measure ensures that quality food is accessible when it matters most.

Comments from the Leadership

Miyuki Takagi, the Mayor of Toshima Ward, expressed her gratitude at the signing ceremony, emphasizing the psychological comfort that warm meals can provide to evacuees. "I believe that providing hot meals can significantly ease the minds of those living in evacuation centers over extended periods. I'm thankful that we've established a cooperation framework with our colleagues from school meal services, allowing us to work together during disasters as we do during regular times," she stated.

Signing Ceremony Details

• - Date: July 28, 2020, from 15:00 to 15:30
• - Venue: Conference Room 507, Toshima Ward Office, 2-45-1 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima Ward
• - Summary: The agreement was officially signed, followed by greetings from representatives of the ten involved meal service providers.

Attendees Include:

• - Ten School Meal Service Providers (One absent):

- Tokyo Catering Co., Ltd.
- Shidax Daishin Human Services Co., Ltd.
- Toyo Foods Co., Ltd.
- Kyoritsu Kyushoku Co., Ltd.
- Fuji Industries Co., Ltd.
- Merix Co., Ltd.
- Mefos Co., Ltd.
- Recton Co., Ltd.
- Hagakure Yushin Co., Ltd.
- Compass Group Japan Co., Ltd.

Mayor Miyuki Takagi was also present to emphasize the importance of the partnership.

This agreement not only strengthens the relationships between Toshima's officials and the meal providers but also showcases a commendable effort towards effective disaster preparedness in the community, ensuring that residents have access to nutritious meals even in times of crisis. The commitment to improving emergency response within the ward is commendable, setting an example for other local governments to follow.