Japan’s disaster management minister says a national call for households to hold at least three days of supplies will be issued when the new Disaster Management Agency opens on November 2.
Tamrah News Desk | October 27, 2026
The Hosono emergency request, which asks every household in Japan to keep food, water and toilet supplies at home, is due to be issued on November 2, according to reports published on October 27. Disaster management minister Goshi Hosono said the call will go to the public, central ministries and every prefecture on the day the new Disaster Management Agency opens, FNN Prime Online reported. He said households should be able to cope for at least three days without government help, and ideally for a week.
What the Hosono Emergency Request Says
FNN reported that Hosono spoke on a Fuji TV online program. He urged people to stockpile food and water and to keep toilet supplies, and FNN illustrated the point with a portable toilet for use when the water supply is cut. According to the same report, he named a Nankai Trough earthquake, a major earthquake directly beneath Tokyo, large quakes along the Japan and Chishima trenches and an eruption of Mount Fuji as the disasters the government must prepare for.
Hosono also put better disaster shelters at the top of his agenda, FNN said. He wants public and private cooperation to provide toilets, kitchens serving hot meals and beds, with baths added to that list.
Why Is Japan Asking for a Household Stockpile Now?
The plan was announced earlier. The Asahi Shimbun reported on October 20 that Hosono previewed it at a cabinet press conference, saying the agency would send the request to ministries, local governments and the public on its first day. Asahi said the aim is to improve shelter conditions and reduce deaths linked to disasters.
Asahi also reported that preparedness differs between municipalities. A Cabinet Office survey published in January 2025 found local governments held about 575,000 cardboard and simple beds in total, which the newspaper said would fall short in a Nankai Trough earthquake. None of the coverage reviewed says a specific warning or event triggered the call. For earlier coverage, see our guide to Japan disaster preparedness.
What Is the Disaster Management Agency?
Jiji Press reported on September 25 that Hosono confirmed the agency will open on November 2 as the government’s command center for disaster preparedness and response. Jiji said it will sit directly under the cabinet, draw up plans for large scale disasters and coordinate ministries. The disaster management minister will be able to issue recommendations that ministries must respect. Japan Today reported that parliament passed the law creating the agency, which will have up to 352 staff in four departments. Jiji added that two regional bureaus are planned for fiscal 2027 or later.
How Prepared Are Japanese Households?
A Cabinet Office survey released in October 2025 showed gaps in emergency supplies, Jiji Press reported. About 69.8 percent of respondents kept at least three liters of drinking water per person per day for three days, and 59.7 percent held food. Only 27.5 percent had portable or emergency toilets. A Cabinet Office official said household supplies were not adequate as a whole. The survey also found 45.8 percent of respondents keep food, water, daily necessities or medicines on hand, up 5 percentage points from September 2022.
Will Panic Buying Follow the Hosono Emergency Request?
The coverage reviewed reports no shortages or purchase limits tied to the new call. A precedent exists. After Japan’s first megaquake advisory in 2024, the Bangkok Post reported that some bottled water, emergency toilets and preserved foods sold out, and supermarket chains including Ito Yokado limited water sales to 12 two liter bottles per family. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries urged people not to hoard, it said.
Shueisha Online reported that the announcement set off online speculation about AI attacks on infrastructure and even a world war, and it explained that the request also covers ministries and local governments. Separately, The Japan Times reported on October 16 that the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an erroneous early warning for a magnitude 9.9 earthquake and withdrew it within minutes, ruling out a cyberattack. The coverage reviewed does not link that incident to the request.
Conclusion
The reports reviewed describe the Hosono emergency request as a preparedness measure tied to the agency’s launch. Goshi Hosono wants every household to hold food, water and portable toilets for three days or more, with a week preferred. Readers searching for Japan stockpile food and water guidance, Japan disaster preparedness advice, Disaster Management Agency updates or Nankai Trough earthquake news should check the November 2 announcement.
