Announced Aug 31, 2026 | AI extension, D-CERT teams, online disaster certificates
After the Kumamoto Earthquake of July 28, 2026, Japan's Digital Agency set up a disaster response headquarters at 18:20 the same day and has continued digital support for affected areas. In its August 31 status update (as of 17:00 on August 28), the agency announced that emergency provision of the Government AI "Gennai" to affected municipalities, originally planned for about three weeks, has been extended through September 30. Gennai offers 16 AI apps for disaster work (including 3 built on urgent request from affected municipalities), a collection of 80 disaster-response use cases and prompts, a standard chat function, and an "agent chat" environment that runs multiple tasks in sequence. As of August 28, there were 247 registered accounts and 847 runs nationwide, and 57 accounts with 457 runs within Kumamoto Prefecture. Since July 29, Disaster-dispatch Digital Support Teams (D-CERT) have also been deployed: they proposed a tool to speed up data entry into the relief-supply system (B-PLo) and developed and operated an app that streamlines check-in procedures for people staying aboard the chartered vessel "Hakuo II" when they go ashore temporarily. Deployment totaled 159 person-days from July 29 to August 27. For residents, guidance has begun on applying online, through Myna Portal and municipal systems, for the disaster-victim certificate (risai shomeisho) required for reconstruction support payments and for reductions or deferrals of taxes, insurance premiums and utility charges.
For foreign residents in the affected area, the most directly relevant point is online filing for the disaster-victim certificate (risai shomeisho). This document is required when applying for reconstruction support payments and when seeking reductions or deferrals of taxes, insurance premiums and utility charges; normally it is filed at the municipal office counter. Where a municipality supports Myna Portal, you can file from home instead of queuing at a counter, which eases the burden for anyone uneasy about face-to-face Japanese. You need a My Number Card, its PIN, and a smartphone or card reader that can read the card. Mid- to long-term residents can obtain a My Number Card separately from their residence card, so it is worth checking early that you have it and remember the PIN. Whether online filing is available, and what documents or photos are required, differs by municipality, so always check your city or town's guidance. Government systems managed by the Digital Agency were confirmed running normally as of August 4.
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Source:
Digital Agency website (Status of Response to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, August 31)This article was edited and written by freegent Inc. based on the source above.