An Agreement of Cooperation Concluded with Kagoshima City

An Agreement of Cooperation was signed between the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, and the Kagoshima City on 7 October 2025. The agreement aims to promote mutual cooperation; and the exchange of personnel, human, intellectual, and material resources in various fields such as disaster prevention research, disaster prevention education, and disaster response.

The signing ceremony was held at Kagoshima City Hall. The ceremony was attended by Director Professor Tomoharu Hori, Director and Professor Haruhisa Nakamichi of the Research Center for Volcano Hazards Mitigation, and the Head and Professor Tomoki Tsutsui of Colossal Eruptions. The agreement was signed by the Kagoshima City Mayor Takao Shimozuru and Director Hori.

Kagoshima City establish the Sakurajima Volcano Disaster Prevention Research Institute in June 2024 to conduct research to contribute to countermeasures and emergency response in the event of a large-scale Sakurajima eruption. Professor Emeritus Masato Iguchi (former Director of the Research Center for Volcano Hazards Mitigation)  serves as the Director. The newly signed Agreement of Cooperation will serve as a framework to provide academic and technical support for efforts by the Research Center.

It is also anticipated that the Agreement will widen collaboration in a broad range of areas including mutual sharing of data on Sakurajima volcanic activity, join research efforts on volcanic and hazards prediction, application on evacuation plans and disaster prevention education.

By leveraging on the accumulated knowledge  over many years by the Research Center for Volcano Hazards Mitigation, Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Kagoshima City aims to link scientific knowledge with local practices. The results and observation data obtained are expected to be used to refine disaster prevention maps, review evacuation plans, and raise disaster prevention awareness among citizens.

• Opening of the Sakurajima Volcano Disaster Prevention Research Institute

連携協力協定締結式のようす（左から、中道センター長、堀所長、下鶴鹿児島市長、井口名誉教授）

Signing Ceremony of the Agreement of Cooperation (from left: Center Director Nakamichi, Director Hori, Kagoshima City Mayor Shimozuru, and Professor Emeritus Iguchi)