Another bad monsoon/typhoon season is hitting Japan.

More people are needed to do disaster preparation, emergency response, and cleanup.

To that end:
A long thread about 消防団 / shōbōdan / volunteer firefighting in Japan.
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My optimistic goal in sharing this: That someone will read it and become a volunteer firefighter. I’ll also be happy if more people understand what we do. Or even if it leads to a bit more disaster prevention awareness.
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To be clear, I’m one of the least accomplished volunteer firefighters I know. I do first aid / drive the truck / run the pump / spray water / roll up hoses / order lunch, but there’s a lot I need to learn. And I drill/march awfully. But I can be useful, and so can anyone.
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Also, each volunteer fire corps is run by its municipality, so my experiences might differ from what happens in other parts of Japan. Each region/city/town/village and even neighborhood has its own culture. My experience is here in Hachioji City (west part of Tokyo).
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Things we do:
-respond to fire calls (avg of 1-2/month)
-maintain equipment (truck, pump, hoses, motorbike, chainsaw, generators, lights, sandbags, firehouse, etc)
-assist 町会 neighborhood association
-festival, event security
-maintain fire hydrants
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Things we do, cont’d:
-practice/compete in 操法大会 skills competition
-disaster planning for our area
-drill (formation, marching, etc)
-annual 出初式 New Years ceremony
-year-end patrols
-team building activities
-coordinate w/professional fire dept.
...and other things
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We’re called to fires by email from the city disaster section. We tell our squad LINE group if we can respond or not. We get to the firehouse, into gear, and head to the scene, which is linked to a map in the email. On the way, we check maps to find nearby fire hydrants.
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Driving is stressful. We can go through red lights, but we’re super cautious. We stop & announce we’ll go through the red light. Everyone watches for pedestrians / traffic. Shotgun person navigates, runs the motor siren, asks cars by loudspeaker to let us pass. 99% do.
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We feel bad having to run sirens even late at night and without traffic, but we are required to make noise. Sorry about that. It is safer, though. A pedestrian or vehicle might emerge suddenly from a side street and not know we are coming if we’re quiet and not lit up.
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Lots of calls are false alarms. Systems malfunction, someone pulls an alarm, etc. We love false alarms. That means everyone’s safe. There are real fires too. If the pros are on all sides of the fire, we help direct traffic or evacuate people. Or we hit the unhandled side.
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At a scene, we coordinate, assist, or stay out of the way of pros. We’re left to our own devices much of the time. Brigade leaders direct us over the our channel on wireless radios, which are onboard each truck, in firehouses, and on a few of us at a given scene.
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Hachioji has hills and forests, so some fires are in tough spots. We’ve run uphill through thick growth. We’ve pumped water from rivers to fires through 100s of meters of hose. It can be high-pressure problem-solving. Sometimes we know local terrain better than the pros.
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Most scenes are calm. But any call can bring close contact with lots of ppl, so right now we’re ordered to wear masks and be more cautious. We have received masks to use on calls, which is nice—it’s very hot and they get ruined fast when we’re sweating in fire suits.
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Lots of fires are cooking/heating mishaps—a big factor is people using old equipment for too many years. Also fires from smoking in bed and bad wiring. Thankfully we rarely see anyone lose their home. Facilities with lots of people like rest homes and hospitals are scary.
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Some fires are suspicious. A pile of garbage bags will burn one day, and then some wood the next day, in the same neighborhood. It doesn’t change what we do, but the police who always show up in their unmarked Suzuki Kizashi start moving more urgently when this happens.
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Non-emergency stuff is more frequent than fires. We meet monthly as a squadron (on LINE w/COVID) for pump inspection (pump water out of/spray back into the river) to maintain the engine/our skills; hear news/orders from our Brigade; confirm squadron finances; etc.
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In spring we also gather weekly or so to help the squadron from our brigade practicing as our entry to that year’s 操法大会 skills competition, which measures speed/accuracy of drilling / operating equipment to fight a fire. Here’s a video of that:

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For these sessions, we gather in a big parking lot (often the city incineration plant) as they run through the routine several times. We assist w/rolling up hoses they’ve deployed, while experienced volunteer and pro firefighters give instruction. (And scoldings. Haha.)
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We also do quarterly “patrols” for community awareness. The brigade gathers in two groups to drive in a convoy of fire trucks around all our neighborhoods, giving messages through the loudspeakers about fire safety, smoke detectors, disaster preparedness, and other things.
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Another thing is 町会 neighborhood association events. We watch during summer festivals when grills and open flames are used. Since that’s light duty, we also let kids sit in the fire truck. They enjoy that, and we recruit them as future members.
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We also assist w/neighborhood disaster prep. Annually, neighborhoods practice evacuating to local evacuation places. We give simple first aid or other instruction as requested by community leaders. Sometimes we distribute literature from the city or fire department, too.
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At the end of the year, we patrol our area several nights in a row. People often leave town, and their homes could pose a risk if they have a fire. There’s a bit of crime prevention element, too. On the last night, we have a huge meal as a squad in the firehouse. It’s fun.
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On December 31, some volunteer firefighters are do security/first aid on Mt. Takao, when 1000s of ppl come to watch the sunrise / do their 初詣 first prayers of the year. Standing there all night is cold duty. Luckily, someone usually wants to do it, for whatever reason.
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After New Years is 出初式 / dezomeshiki / “first mobilization ceremony.” The city corps gathers to drill for citizens / officials and show skills. The history preservation group does traditional ladder-climbing. City fire corps band plays, too.
https://twitter.com/dwvcd/status/1216175394765725696?s=21
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After dezomeshiki, we flush out each fire hydrant in our area. Most aren’t used at all, so they get rusty/dirty. We flush/brush them and salt around the lid to prevent ice (most Tokyo fire hydrants are under manholes and have yellow paint like in this photo).
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While we maintain fire hydrants, neighbors emerge to give us envelopes w/ 2,000-5,000 yen, thanking us for our service. We give back tissue boxes (nice ones) in return. Some neighbors—often our retired sempai—give us huge bottles of sake. We dispose of these appropriately.
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A week later, the neighborhood has どんど焼き / dondoyaki: Bonfire to burn all talismans, daruma, other religious items from the last yr, and roast mochi. We watch and pout out this large fire. It’s a small chance to get in our gear and stand by a very hot fire.
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Every fall, there’s inspection of our brigade by the city corps. We drill / march for them, usually on a wide elementary schoolyard. When there’s a funeral of someone who was in the corps recently, some of us attend the funeral in full dress uniforms and offer condolences.
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Although I translate 消防団 as “volunteer firefighting,” it pays a small amt. We are officially “part-time special civil servants.” In our city each person gets 80,000 yen/year. Leaders get a bit more. Each mobilization yields 2,000 yen/person. Hourly, pay is very low :)
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Rather than individually taking pay, some squadrons pool it. This varies. In our case, we gladly pool and use the funds for meals, equipment, firehouse fixtures like AC, and take an overnight team-building trip annually or so. We went to Hakodate this year in February.
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I love our squadron. Here are the jobs held by the members:
HVAC tech
Architect assistant
Mat cleaning/laundry svc driver
Driving instructor
Head of HR at a bank
Confectionery shop mgr
Truck driver
City hall worker
Programmer
Interpreter
Elder care worker
Delivery driver
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A thing I love about volunteer firefighting in Japan is that it’s a self-selecting group of community-minded people who want to contribute and enjoy the camaraderie. Most are humble, capable people. So joining is also a good way to make quality friends while contributing.
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During activities, there’s little awareness of me as an “outsider,” etc—we’re all just local people who help out. In emergencies, no one has asked/mentioned where I was born. It helps that uniforms mean a lot in Japan. ButI find that it’s a refreshing situation overall.
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Since the 3/11 disasters, the role of volunteer firefighters has evolved. Fighting and prevention of fires used to a bigger focus. Now we’re being trained in rope rescue, sandbagging, first aid, and other disaster-related skills and equipment.
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Last year we started a special program for selected volunteer firefighters in rope rescue/first aid/other/methods, including training from pro firefighters and paramedics. W/climate change floods are getting worse and happening in new places, like my neighborhood.
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The last two years, our neighborhood has seen unprecedented (per a 90-yr-old neighbor) flooding during typhoons. Each time, we’ve fought the river at its overflow spot, sandbagging to keep it in its banks and out of people’s homes.
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Both times we’ve asked people to evacuate late at night. Damage has been somewhat limited, but it’s concerning. And each time we feel the need for more sets of hands to sandbag, knock doors, and direct people to safety.
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If you feel able to help during disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fires, or lots of other situations, I highly recommend joining your volunteer fire corps. You are needed and can really make a difference, rather than feeling helpless watching the news.
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Many non-citizen residents don’t feel recognized in Japan as members of society. I understand and share that feeling. One long-term and not easy solution to this is visibly contributing over the long haul. People appreciate it. It changes people’s views little by little.
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While I’m not claiming that joining your local volunteer fire squadron is a magic road to acceptance, I do say it’s a great way to contribute, make friends, build social capital, and feel very fulfilled, for me at least. With society aging, people are needed in squads.
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The cardinal rule of each member’s commitment to volunteer firefighting is that we prioritize family and work. So when any call/mobilization/event happens, it’s always okay to sit it out due to other things going on. You can join without worrying about conflicts.
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Quite honestly—especially if you’re in a squad that pools pay—simply having you as a member is beneficial to a squad, even if you’re usually too busy to show up. The city and community also benefit, because you’re a valuable resource who can contribute when possible.
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Our organization (I chose rough English terms):
City: 本団 / Corps; 1,345 ppl
Area: 分団 / Brigade; 50-150 ppl
Neighborhood: 部 / Squadron; 10-15 ppl
So when I refer to my squadron, that’s our local group of 12 with our own firehouse and truck/pump.
(City pop. is 560,000)
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Tokyo firefighting has a cool history that I can’t cover here. Basically local groups in the Edo Period were assigned as 火消し / hikeshi / firefighters to put out fires / demolish bldgs by fires to prevent their spread. They were mostly unpaid.
https://www.fdma.go.jp/relocation/syobodan/data/historry/index.html
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Professional fire departments were also established, but volunteer units have always existed in parallel. During wartime, fire departments were merged under police, and so were volunteer groups. Now they’re fiercely separate, with occasional low-key turf battles.
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I’m a big fan of the 鳶職 / tobi / construction ppl who were Edo firefighters due to climbing / demolition skills. In Hachioji, a group is devoted to preserving their skills, and is still made up of the coolest tradespeople.
Video of their skills:
https://twitter.com/dwvcd/status/1216178325523193856?s=21
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Some Japan firefighting stats:
-2200 volunteer fire brigades in Japan
-830,000 volunteer firefighters
-160,000 professional firefighters
-26,600 women firefighters
As a system it costs a lot, but I think a million sets of hands pays enormous dividends in disasters.
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In Hachioji, we also have a volunteer fire corps brass marching band. They do concerts at various events including the New Year ceremony. I can play the baritone horn and kind of want to join it. Maybe sometime.
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A huge drawback: Local units are men-only. In Hachioji women *can* join the women’s unit, which drills / trains w/the same skills / equipment as local squadrons at equal or better levels, and responds to calls/disasters. One woman taught me rope skills.
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I fervently hope it’s integrated someday, but honestly the organizations are led by ppl who are unlikely to make it happen soon. And no one mentions it. The women I know in the Hachioji corps say they love having their own unit. But it might prevent great ppl from joining.
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Whether a non-citizen can join the volunteer fire corps depends on each municipality’s policy. There is no law against it. I was turned down initially when someone along the chain thought it was prohibited. Then I tried again through a friend and there was zero resistance.
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To join your local squadron, here’s my advice:
-get your Japanese fluent if it’s not already; the possiblity of misunderstanding will be considered an unacceptable safety risk
-make friends w/member(s) of the squadron
-get their support for you to head off any resistance
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If it’s hard to get to know current members, go to your city/town/etc hall 防災課 / disaster section or relevant department and request info on how to join. Be friendly and show eagerness to contribute. I think many will be open to helping you join. Again, they need people.
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This thread got long, but for the 2 ppl still reading, let me say:
I’ve joined all kinds of organizations and filled many roles as a 19-year Japan resident. Nothing’s come close to the fun, fulfillment, and relationships I’ve gotten from being a volunteer firefighter.
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Disasters are getting more severe in Japan. Volunteer firefighting is a vital resource for fighting them. We need more ppl. Joining is one of many ways we can help Japanese society at large to recognize non-citizens and foreign-born ppl as contributors. Join up if you can!
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I’m sure I will remember other things I want to share, so I will tack onto this thread as needed. 

Also, ask me anything! I’ll try to address questions or concerns about volunteer firefighting, within my limited knowledge.
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P.S. 1
Even if you can’t join your volunteer fire organization for whatever reason, being active in your neighborhood association (even w/the potential annoyances and human relations drama) is a way to get positioned for contributing enormously in disaster response.

Great question. Re: Level of Japanese skill needed, I’d say at least N2 or so, but also add that any evaluation will be informal and very verbally-focused. We communicate in noisy, pressure-packed situations, and on wireless radio.
https://twitter.com/nihon_hustle/status/1284751834360381440?s=21 https://twitter.com/nihon_hustle/status/1284751834360381440

Another great question.
I don’t have a rule /source I can cite, but pro firefighters and paramedics tell me anytime an emergency vehicle is on the way to a response, they have to have the sirens on and lights flashing. We are ordered to have them on, too.
https://twitter.com/philknall/status/1284752240717123585?s=21 https://twitter.com/philknall/status/1284752240717123585