Disaster expo shows innovations in thriving Japan industry
Some of the products on display at an exhibition on the sidelines of a recent
Products like
The snap- and screw-on handles, which turn a wheelchair into a modern version of a "rickshaw" like the ones seen in old movies, enable a person to push or pull a wheelchair over sand and snow, up and down stairs, with relative ease.
Nakamura knew from early on that pushing a wheelchair can be hard work, having often pushed his disabled brother around as they played with friends as children. He thought up the idea for the Jinriki while working on a tourism-related project, but was only able to turn it into a reality after the
Being able to quickly escape to higher ground was a life-or-death matter when a tsunami up to 40 meters (131 feet) high thrashed
Many of the elderly people living in
Exact figures on disaster-related spending and manufacturing are hard to come by. The market spans both government and private spending, and includes an entire universe of goods ranging from tarps and water containers to sophisticated early-warning systems for tsunamis and typhoons.
Globally, disaster-related spending is on the rise as losses from weather-related catastrophes surge. Heeding estimates showing that
Many of the exhibitors in
Fujiwara also makes beds fitted with overhead steel slats to shield up to three adults from falling debris.
"The idea is to create a safe space in the home," said Torano. Other offerings included an emergency kit for helping extricate people from collapsed houses, and hard-hats designed to look like baseball caps.
"You can walk around town and not have to worry about a quake knocking something onto your head," Torano said.
On a larger scale,
As it strives to revive the sluggish economy, the government is aggressively peddling disaster-related technology.
At the U.N. conference, the
The Japanese government announced plans this week for a new 10-year risk management strategy intended to slash in half estimated deaths and damages in the earthquake-prone
Apart from retrofitting buildings and reducing congestion in fire-prone riverside districts, the government intends to stockpile 72 million meals, 6 million blankets and 54 million-use portable toilets.
While the earthquake simulator, all-terrain vehicles and other big-ticket items drew the biggest crowds in
"Handling babies whose backs or necks are broken has always been a big problem because there is no neck brace to fit them," said
On an even smaller scale,
One of the biggest exhibitors in
Soldier
"We helped 120,000 people to relax," he explained.
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