U.S. Army Japan demonstrates disaster response capabilities in Big Rescue Kanagawa 2026

ATSUGI, Japan — U.S. and Japanese military, government, medical and emergency response organizations demonstrated combined disaster response capabilities during Big Rescue Kanagawa 2026, a large-scale joint disaster drill held Sept. 1 in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The drill brought together the Japan Self-Defense Forces, U.S. military, Kanagawa Prefecture, local hospitals and civilian emergency response organizations to demonstrate coordinated rescue, medical and disaster response capabilities during a simulated large scale disaster.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, along with other local officials, including the foreign minister, defense minister and Kanagawa governor, attended the drill and observed rescue, medical and emergency response demonstrations conducted by participating organizations. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. James Dooghan, commanding general of U.S. Army Japan, met with the prime minister on behalf of the United States, highlighting the enduring U.S.-Japan partnership and the importance of close coordination before a disaster occurs. U.S. Army Japan participated alongside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, demonstrating capabilities U.S. forces stationed in Japan can provide in support of Japan during a disaster.

For U.S. Army Japan, the drill highlighted how Army aviation and medical capabilities support humanitarian assistance and disaster response while strengthening relationships needed for an effective real-world response.

U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan demonstrated Army aviation’s ability to rapidly move personnel and provide aerial support, particularly when ground transportation may be limited or disrupted.

Medical personnel from U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Japan worked alongside Japanese medical partners and a tri-service U.S. medical team that included U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka and the 374th Medical Group. Together, they demonstrated patient reception, bilateral triage and treatment, casualty movement and coordination among military and civilian medical systems.

“Big Rescue Kanagawa demonstrates that during a crisis, medical response knows no branch or border,” said Col. Michele Kehrle, commander of U.S. Army Medical Department Activity-Japan. “By working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Navy, Air Force and Japanese medical partners, we practice the joint and bilateral triage and treatment procedures necessary to evaluate and treat casualties seamlessly. This close coordination ensures that wherever a patient receives care, our combined medical systems can provide rapid, lifesaving support when every second counts.”

The medical demonstration underscored the importance of relationships established before a disaster. During a crisis, an effective medical response depends not only on individual capabilities but also on the ability of organizations to communicate, coordinate and move patients across different medical systems.

Japan’s history of earthquakes, typhoons and other natural disasters makes disaster preparedness an enduring priority. Drills such as Big Rescue Kanagawa allow U.S. and Japanese organizations to practice coordination, identify how their respective capabilities complement one another and strengthen relationships before a disaster occurs. Through continued disaster preparedness efforts with the Japan Self-Defense Forces, local governments, hospitals and emergency response organizations, U.S. Army Japan continues to strengthen the partnerships and coordination needed to support Japan and its communities during emergencies.

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