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Professor Tsuboi of Faculty of Economics conducted a workshop on "Spatial Design and Setup of Evacuation Shelters in Times of Disaster" at the Toyosato District Women's Fire Prevention Club in Utsunomiya City, UtsunomiyaUtsunomiya Campus

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Sotaro Tsuboi of Teikyo University Faculty of Economics Department of Regional Economics Professor conducted a “Workshop on the Spatial Design and Setup of Evacuation Shelters in the Event of a Disaster” at the Toyosato District Community Center (Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture).
The venue’s main hall is designated as an “official evacuation shelter” by the City of Utsunomiya; it serves as a place where evacuees can stay for a certain period if they are unable to remain in their homes or other residences following a disaster.
Twenty-six members of the “Women’s Fire Prevention Club” within the Toyosato District United Residents’ Association participated in this workshop. Based on an assumed living space of 4 square meters per person, they conducted planning exercises scaled to the actual dimensions of the evacuation shelter.During the workshop, participants used cards indicating family size (1, 2, or 4 people), gender, wheelchair users, and reception areas to plan the layout. They also assembled actual “cardboard beds” and worked in groups to create furniture for the shelter by combining cardboard boxes of various sizes that each participant had brought.
Participants shared feedback such as: “I understood the importance of ensuring adequate space for walkways when arranging evacuees,” “I realized that we need to consider not only the placement of men and women but also the placement of wheelchair users,” and “I learned that cardboard is sturdier than I imagined and can be used in various ways during evacuation life.”We will continue to work toward improving local disaster preparedness and response capabilities through surveys, research, and hands-on fieldwork.

For more information about Professor Sotaro Tsuboi, click here
Department of Regional Economics the Faculty Faculty of Economics, click here

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