Firefighting in Japan

Volunteer and career firefighters work alongside each other to tackle the Ōfunato wildfire.

Firefighting in Japan (Japanese: 消防, Hepburn: Shōbō) is coordinated by local government with assistance and oversight from central government. Organized firefighting was first established in the Edo era to deal with threats posed to government property and power by the frequent devastating fires of the period; it was originally established along the lines of the local feudal system, with samurai and other local officials engaging in firefighting. However, as time went on and Japan adopted a more western-style system of government, organised fire brigades were established similar to those in the western world.

Today, firefighting is mainly provided by professional municipal fire departments, with some assistance from local volunteer fire corps. Fire departments are responsible not only for firefighting, but also for fire safety enforcement, disaster prevention and response, and emergency medical services. Municipalities are responsible for establishing municipal departments and volunteer corps, with assistance and funding provided by prefectures and the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA).