The Hyogo International Association in Hyogo Prefecture has created a disaster preparation guidebook in nine languages, including Vietnamese and Spanish, for families that can't speak Japanese.
The guidebook provides explanations of eight kinds of natural disasters common in Japan, including mudslides, and Japanese terms related to disaster prevention, such as "hinan kankoku" (evacuation advisory).
Hyogo Prefecture experienced the Great Hanshin Earthquake 19 years ago. There are currently around 100,000 foreign residents in the prefecture.
The association has already distributed 16,500 copies of the guidebook through municipal governments and schools, and is planning to hold disaster prevention lectures using the guidebook. The information is also available on the association's website.