[Title] Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Foreign Minister of Japan At the UN Event for the World Tsunami Awareness Day

Distinguished guests and participants,

My name is MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. It is a great honor to make a few remarks at this UN event commemorating World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025.

First and foremost, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Her Excellency Ms. Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and His Excellency Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social council as well as all the Member States and organizations involved in facilitating this event.

In response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred in Japan in January last year, I had the honor to serve as the head of the Liberal Democratic Party's Noto Peninsula Earthquake Countermeasures Headquarters, where I took command on the ground. Through this experience, I have come to strongly reaffirm the critical importance of investment in both human resources and materials to mitigate disaster risk.

Today we have the opportunity to engage in discussions on investment in tsunami preparedness, made possible through the diligent efforts of all involved.

This year marks a decade since the establishment of World Tsunami Awareness Day. In 2015, a resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, with the endorsement of 142 nations, designating November 5th as "World Tsunami Awareness Day." This resolution, spearheaded by the Japanese government, aims to deepen global understanding and awareness of the threats posed by tsunamis and the necessary countermeasures, inspired by the lessons of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Japanese government, leveraging its extensive expertise, has been actively addressing the increasingly severe and frequent disasters occurring worldwide due to the impacts of climate change and other factors. These efforts are yielding tangible results. However, it is regrettable that the memory of disasters tends to fade with the passage of time. Measures that do not preserve the legacy of these memories cannot fully achieve their intended purpose.

The transmission of disaster memory and experience is an essential duty entrusted to us, the present generation.

In Japan, since 2016, the High School Student Summit on "World Tsunami Awareness Day" has been convened as a platform for high school students from around the globe to learn about the threats of tsunamis and the corresponding countermeasures.

To date, over 2,000 high school students have participated, gaining insights into what actions should be taken and what can be done to safeguard themselves, their families, and their communities from tsunamis. These grassroots efforts are being disseminated within their schools, communities, and homes.

At today's event, we welcome three high school students, Ms. Ruka Ogura, Mr. Mitsuki Komatsu, and Mr. Yumeto Hirama, participating as representatives of the High School Student Summit on "World Tsunami Awareness Day" 2025, scheduled to be held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, later this month. As representatives of the next generation and as youth who will shape the future, we anticipate that they will powerfully convey their enthusiasm for this summit and the paramount importance of disaster risk reduction to the global audience.

Finally, in the autumn of 2027, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will be convened in Sendai City. Having endured numerous disasters and amassed a wealth of knowledge on disaster risk reduction, Japan is resolute in its commitment to lead global disaster risk reduction efforts, striving to build a sustainable and resilient society worldwide.

Thank you for your attention.