Japanology Plus: Season 2023, Episode 20

2023 - 20: Firefighting

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and residential fires are posing new challenges. Japan is responding to this evolving reality by developing new firefighting technologies, such as water-free fire engines, AI-powered robots, and self-extinguishing building materials. Around the country, official fire departments are supported by volunteer firefighters, but as societal norms change the number of volunteers is dropping. We introduce the latest from the world of Japanese firefighting.