Tokyo holds first missile evacuation drill in years

that should keep them safe. and nary a zebra n sight!

If that was a photo-op intended to convey preparedness, I think it sent exactly the opposite message.

Look like sitting ducks

It only takes 5 minutes for a missiles to reach Tokyo from,China, Russia or NK ,if it a nuke,most people will die a horrible death of radiation

who participates in crap like this don't they have jobs?

If those anti-war demonstrators really believe they can prevent wars through dialogue, they should go to North Korea and dissuade Kim the Dear Leader from doing missile launch tests.

Ludicrous.

Once in a shelter, don't need to duck and put your arms over your head. Or it would mean you are dead or going to die already...

Nothing to do with eartquake prevention.

Japan is building up defenses in Okinawa and the surrounding outer islands because they are concerned that it is a high risk area and yet there aren't any drills like this over here. This drill was only for the Tokyo people to put fear into them so that they'll accept Kishida's defense bill. Complete photo op and propaganda ploy.

It only takes 5 minutes for a missiles to reach Tokyo from,China, Russia or NK ,if it a nuke,most people will die a horrible death of radiation

As will the entire population of the nation stupid enough to launch the weapon.

Nice attempt to make the raise in defense budget more palatable to the public. Just keep them in fear of the baddies across the sea.

Never seen so much staged idiocy!

Japan loves fear mongering

Ah, good old "Duck and Cover", just like old times. And 60 people? Yeah, that'll educate the populace. If this is something people need to know, put it on trains, television, Shibuya billboards; make an anime about it. Communicate with the people!

Absolute fear mongering, to boost LDP popularity before elections. When will the Japanese people wake up from the myth of neighbours were all bad. The bad guys were that foreign occupying forces on Japanese soil, sea and flying in air. Paying protection money to ask for their mercy was not a wise move !

This resembles more a Monty Python sketch than a safety drill, and apparently it's the top story of the morning - nice one JT.

But I guess promoting a climate of fear helps prepare the masses for increased military spending and the requisite tax hikes.

most stations in Japan are very crowded. good luck with moving thousands of panic stricken people to safety, if such a place exists.

A few dozen anti-war demonstrators gathered in front of the train station where the drill took place, chanting and holding signs that read "Missile drill is preparation for war" and "Diplomatic dialogue instead of missile drills".

Tell that to Little Rocket Man and see if he listens. People like these are either too pure and innocent or are actively in denial. I see missile drills useful for other situations, and considering the Japanese are used to practicing other disaster-related things, this shouldn't be of much concern to them.

The extensive underground malls and connecting passages in Tokyo station and other major railway hubs like Shinjuku have the unofficial, but intentional second purpose as bomb shelters.

Tokyo Governor Koike hinted at such when describing her plan to expand the Tokyo metro underground facilities.

What a great waste of everyone's time, human resources.

I mean, we wouldnt have to worry about these kind of things if communism was wiped out of the face of earth, not the people, but the murderous supremacist ideology

More comedy gold.....

Spreading fear for a threat that does not exist.

I would have thought that railway stations might be targets and not a place to evacuate to.

A staged performance to boost public fear and support for militarization.

Subway systems make good bomb shelters.

Keep the fear real.

Press ○ to run, △ to jump and ◻︎ to dodge.

North Korea is the least threat to Japan. There are other neighbors who are more likely to hit the trigger.

I would agree, that something has to be done. It's no fear mongering or a militarization step. (several real wars are now in the news as well as real missile tests by NK plus verbal threats, aren't they? / the people taking part in the drill don't have weapons and don't know how to handle any.) No, of course real and potential threats are out there and all opposing here or on demonstrations should quickly develop a minimum of reality recognition, about what's going on in politics and which global developments are showing more and more impact and are coming nearer and nearer, geographically and under time considerations.

But what they do in such alarm drills like above is of course complete nonsense, that's for sure and admitted. What I see here, is a false sense of safety provided propaganda, because in fact it lacks of sufficient quality and quantity , namely real professional shelters , well equipped and located almost everywhere for all citizens.

In the event of any nuclear war residents will not have time to seek out shelters, These nuclear rockets travel at hyper sonic speeds and many of them carry as many as 10 warheads. If people do survive these they could be the unfortunate ones. If one draws a comparison with history, the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the bombs used today are 80 times more powerful, and some countries like the USA, Russia and China have hundreds of these things.... If any thing like this happens again there will be nothing left. I am sorry to be so gloomy and pessimistic but facts are facts. Oh, but never forget, the leaders of these countries will be OK in their shelters miles underground and enough food stores for decades. We, the people, do not matter.

Bend down. Got it. Thanks...

I wonder why construction workers bother with hard hats when it seems that covering the back of you head with your hands will protect you when the ceiling and the 8 floors above it crash down on top of you.

This is most unfortunate and unacceptable situation which compels to holds such drills.

Undeniably this is proof of the failures of the politicians of the world. They are proving themselves incapable of learning from history. Their stupidity, ignorance, fear of others and greed for supremacy may lead the world to disasters no body can even imagine. Please warn the politicians to refrain from wars and war games any where in the world.

Although the threats may be realer than we like to admit, you have to hand it to them. They certainly know how to put on a show.

Most of the participants look over 60, too. This needs to be taught to the younger generation as well. An accidental missile drop is a real threat here.

LDP regime are crazy for expanding armaments but they don't prepare even evacuation shelters, politics including local government only urge primitive "self-defence" to citizen.

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

Fear is a system of control.

It only takes 5 minutes for a missiles to reach Tokyo from,China, Russia or NK ,if it a nuke,most people will die a horrible death of radiation

Tokyo to crowded no where to hide in 5 minutes. All would be buried in rubble after the gas line go popping off like a river of flames. There got to be a better way

A drill for something that will never happen soon. If it does, everyone will be panicked and pray