PRESS CONFERENCE
Japan's Response to the Kumamoto Earthquake
Hayashi Yoshimasa, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
15:00-16:00 Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English.
Last month's magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto killed at least 34 people and forced rescuers to search for survivors amid soaring summer temperatures. At the same time, preventative measures such as earthquake-resistant building technologies are credited with keeping the number of casualties far below that of a deadly quake that struck the same area a decade ago.
To talk with us about the government's relief efforts, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan is pleased to host a press conference by Hayashi Yoshimasa, the minister of internal affairs and communications, who has overseen much of the response. The minister will speak about the current relief effort in Kumamoto and its ongoing challenges, including the sheltering of the thousands whose dwellings collapsed.
Hayashi will also be able to address other issues that he has faced as minister, including new measures to strengthen cybersecurity and regulate artificial intelligence. Please join us for a chance to speak with a leading member of the current Cabinet -- and a possible future prime minister.
How to attend:
Please register by emailing front@fccj.or.jp with your name and the name of your media outlet. FCCJ members should also include their membership number. Doors will open 15 minutes before the event.
How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live
How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/GmkfVij2UnLZTZUV8
TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.
Professional Activities Committee