Creative City in Cooperation and Harmony

ATSUGIWHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety
Promotion

Application report to be a member ofInternational Safe Community

March 2010
Atsugi City, Japan

Logo of Safe Community Atsugi<<Concept>>
This simple and adorable logo is made to give the image of cherishing and improving
safety and peace for all Atsugi citizens from new born babies and the elderlyGreeting from Mayor
Being located in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture, Atsugi City has been
taking important roles as a distribution hub to the Metropolitan Tokyo Area withhigh developed transportation systems. On the other hand, our city enjoys
abundant nature such as the Sagami River and Tanzawa Mountain Range
which are surrounding the city.
These days, however, we have become to be faced to new challenges in the
improvement and management of safety and health of citizens under thesituations of rapid aging of the society, falling birthrate, weakened bond in thecommunity, residents’ increasing interest in regional autonomy lead by the movement of
de-cauterization of politics. Considering these trends, I strongly believe that strategies of Safe
Community provided by the WHO Collaboration Center on Community Safety Promotion will give us
clues to cope with problems caused by present situation and lead us to brighter future.
Atsugi City declared about launch of the scheme of Safe Community in January 2008. We set up
an administrative section of the Safe Community Project and registered as a candidate for a member of
the International Safe Community Network in April 2008. Furthermore, we declared implementation of
Safe Community programs in Atsugi City comprehensive plan named “Atsugi Vibrant ComprehensivePlan” started in the same month.
Since then, we have conducted community diagnoses with various materials such as statistical
data and results of surveys, which resulted in revealing problems in safety; suicide, traffic, feeling ofanxiety, various accidents and injuries among high risk groups such as children and the seniors. We
also found that we need to take measures to reduce accidents and injuries with bicycles and at work
places, which is distinct in Atsugi.
I, as a mayor, strongly believe that effort for safety promotion in collaboration among community
members will lead to strengthen the community bond, vitalize communities, and improve quality of ourlives. We are, therefore, trying harder to decrease injuries and accidents along with the concept of Safe
Community and establishing a network of Safe Community in the nation wide as well as international
network.

Tsuneyoshi Kobayashi
Mayor,
Atsugi City

CONTENTS
Chapter1

Overview of Atsugi City ........................................1

1 Geography, population, and households .......................................................................................... 3
2 Economics, Education, and Culture.................................................................................................. 5

Chapter 2 Background of Atsugi Safe Community
initiative .....................................................................................7
1. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 7
2. Implementation of the Safe Community Project .............................................................................. 9

Chapter 3

State of Injuries in Atsugi City ......................... 10

1. Causes of Death ............................................................................................................................ 10
2. Causes of Injuries .......................................................................................................................... 15
3. Characteristics of injuries ............................................................................................................... 17

Chapter 4

Challenges and Goals ....................................... 34

1. Priority challenges facing Atsugi City ............................................................................................. 34
2. Objectives of Atsugi Safe Community ............................................................................................ 34

Chapter5 Initiatives Based on Six Indicators ..................... 36
Indicator 1： An infrastructure based on partnership and collaborations, governed by a cross- sectional groupthat is responsible for safety promotion in their community ........................................................................ 36
Indicator 2: Long-term, sustainable programs covering both genders and all ages, environments,and situations ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Indicator 3: Programs that target high-risk groups and environments, and programs that promote
safety for vulnerable groups............................................................................................................... 61
Indicator 4： Programs that document the frequency and causes of injuries .................................... 65
Indicator 5： Evaluation measures to assess their programs, processes and the effects of change. 69
Indicator 6： Ongoing participation in national and international Safe Community networks. ........... 76

Chapter 6 Prospects for sustainable Atsugi Safe
Community ............................................................................. 80
1. Goals of Safe Community .............................................................................................................. 80
2. Program implementation strategy .................................................................................................. 81
3. Future perspective of SC movement at Atsugi City ....................................................................... 82

Chapter1
Overview of Atsugi City
Atsugi City is located in the centre of Kanagawa Prefecture on fan-shaped topography on the right bankof the Sagami River. With the Tanzawa Mountain Range to its north-west, Atsugi is blessed with a richnatural environment. Furthermore, thanks to the prominent geographical position, it takes a role oftransportation hub and the untiring exertions by residents and has developed as a key city providing
important function in transportation and business to the capital region. Atsugi is a bustling city withcommercial and residential districts, research institutes operated by well known companies, anduniversities.
Looking back to the Edo Period (1603 – 1867), the city used to be called ‘Little Edo(Tokyo), which is an
old name of capital of Japan. Along with a development as Inn-City, the city becomes an industrial
region with thriving exchange of products and cargo transport. After long term of development, on
February 1, 1955, one town and four villages merged and become Atsugi City, with three more villages
joining later.
Nowadays, in response to a demand to play a role as a center of wide-area cooperation—a corebusiness city which has concentrated urban functions to ensure communication and inter-regional
exchanges over a wide area—it has taken advantage of its past achievements and beneficial location
to encourage sustainable development and creation of attractive communities in harmony with its richnatural environment.

1

City tree: Maple tree

City flower: Satsuki azalea(Enacted February 1, 1969)

City logo:
Designed the first word ‘a(あ)’of
Atsugi City, or three sweet fish. It
symbolizes harmony and progressof the people of the city.
(Adopted March 22, 1955)[Origin of the place name, Atsugi]
There are several explanations for the origin of the name of Atsugi. One is a shortened word of “atsume-gi (woodgathering)” considering it used to be a lumber distribution center. It is also said that the name came from aboriginal
language in Hokkaido, Ainu word, for marquetry (decorative wooden inlay).

2

1 Geography, population, and households●

Area

93.83km2 (East-west: 13.68km, South-north: 14.80 km)●

Population

225,797 ( 94,631 households ) (as of Jan. 1, 2010)●

Population density

2,400 per sq. km●

Household size

2.42 people per household●

Births

5.57 persons per day●

Deaths

3.96 persons per day●

Registered foreigners

6,185 persons
Source: Atsugi Statistic Data 2008

Figure 1 Population composition by age group (2008)

Source: Prefectural Statistical Survey of Population by Age : Atsugi City (Jan. 1) Nationwide and Kanagawa Prefecture (Oct. 1)

Population of Atsugi City is about 220,000, and young generations take relatively high percentage of
the whole population, which characterizes the Atsugi city among the cities in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Table 1 Population by 3 Age Groups
Population composition by 3 age
groups (%)

Population
Year

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008

Total

Children（＜15)

217,848
219,907220,665
221,471
222,703
222,712
223,847
225,163

31,97532,08732,02831,79331,92931,43931,481
31,619Productive
population（15－ 64）
162,778
163,388
162,784
162,539
162,120
159,643
158,579
157,635

Elderly（64 ＜）
23,07824,41525,83627,122
28,63731,06733,22435,346

<15
14.7
14.6
14.5
14.4
14.3
14.1
14.1
14.0

15 - 64
74.7
74.3
73.8
73.4
72.8
71.7
70.8
70.0

64<
10.6
11.1
11.7
12.2
12.9
13.9
14.8
15.7

Source: Kanagawa Prefecture Statistical Survey of Population by Age: Jan 1 of each year
Note) 1. The total population composition ratio by 3 age groups includes those whose age is unknown.

3

Average
age
37.87
38.26
38.68
39.12
39.53
40.17
40.59
40.96

The population of Atsugi has been gradually increasing since 1998. The composition ratio of tree agegroups(0-14,15-64, 65 and over) shows that the young generation remains higher ratio than the elderly,
65 years and older, while falling of birth rate and aging of the society .

Figure 2. Population change in past 10 years

Index (1998 = 100)

Source: Atsugi City – Statistics Atsugi (Oct. 1 of each year), National (Oct.1 of each year), Kanagawa Pref. (Jan. 1 of each year) –Kanagawa Prefecture Population Statistics by age group

Figure 3. Population composition of 3 age groups and aging Index

Source: Kanagawa Prefecture Statistical Survey of Population by Age (Jan 1 of each year)
Note: Aging index is the ratio of the elderly population (65 and older) to the youth population (14 and younger)

Reference
The population of Atsugi City was about 30,000 when it was given city status (1955), then reached 100,000 in 1973.It exceeded
200,000 in 1991. At the present, its population is more than 7 times that when it became a city.

4

2 Economics, Education, and Culture
Hub of Transportation
Being located 46km from Metropolitan Tokyo and 32km from
Yokohama City, it is blessed with geographical conditions as aperfect for a transportation hub with Tomei Expressway, national
highways #129, #246, and #412, the Odawara-Atsugi Road andothers..

Industrial City
Since the early 1980’s, Atsugi has developed as a multi-function city,with Nissan Motors Co., Ltd. and other research oriented
corporations located in Atsugi, concentrating business, services,
and industry. ( Table 3)- Business establishments: 9,764 (2006 Statistical Survey ofBusiness Establishments and Enterprises).
-Workers: 136,099(Note) excluding public employees.

Out of these, 397 are industrial companies with 21,375 ofworkers (2007 Industrial Statistics Survey)(Note) Business establishments with 3 or fewer workers are not included.

Dynamic Community Activities
In 15 wards, there are 220 residents associations, 37 children’s centers, 41 senior citizen centers, withtradition of mutual support among residents. (FY2009)

City with an excellent medical treatment system (March 2008)
The city is fully served by 11 general hospitals, 150 clinics, and 110 dentists’ offices.
Table 2 Comparison with numbers of facilities/hospital beds (per 100,000 people) in Kanagawa Prefecture (Oct. 1, 2006)

Total
RegionNumberHospitals

Numberof beds

NumberClinics

Numberof beds

NumberW/BedsNo
beds

Total beds

Kanagawa
Pref.

127.7

898.4

4.0

851.5

70.0

5.2

64.9

46.8

Atsugi City

122.9

1271.45.8

1205.8

67.9

6.3

61.7

65.7

5

Table 3 Population by industry

Lively academic life (May 2008)
Atsugi has a full selection of educational institutions and an
energetic population of young generation attending 18
kindergartens, 23 elementary schools, 13 junior and 6 seniorhigh schools, 6 vocational schools, 1 two-year college, 4universities and 4 graduate schools.

Harmony with nature
Atsugi is abundant in rich nature including the Sagami Riverand Daisan Mountain.

Domestic and international networks
Atsugi City has friendship with cities listed below:
Overseas: New Britain City( U.S), Yangzhou City ( China),
and Gunpo City( Korea)
Domestic: Yokote City (Akita Pref.)Abashiri City( Hokkaido Pref.)
Disaster Prevention Sister City: Sayama City ( Saitama pref.)Cultural and historical resources
Atsugi preserves many arts and cultural properties for future generations: the Intangible Folk Cultural
Asset Of Japan, the Sagami Puppet Theater, the National Designated Valuable Culture Property, theWooden Sculpture of a Sitting Amida-Nyorai in Kongoji Temple, and other cultural assets, in addition to
the prefectural designated important cultural property, the main hall of Honzenji Temple.

Related reference index-Traffic accidents: 5.20 per day-Fires: One/5.89 days
-Ambulance trips: 24.48 per day-Railway passengers: 195,841 per day-Night time – daytime population ratio: 114.7 (Oct. 1, 2005)-Parks: 7.40m2 per capita
Source: Atsugi Mini-statistics Data (2008 edition)

6

Chapter 2
Background of Atsugi Safe Community
initiative
1. BackgroundAtsugi City is now going through a sweeping revolution of living infrastructure and environmental
conditions, as a result of change in the society in recent years including the rapid falling birthrate, agingof the population, change of the urban environment, diversification of the people’s values, residents’
growing consciousness of self-government stemning by the weakening of the bonds of communities
and advancing decentralization to the regions.
In these conditions, the city faces three major challenges related to the safety in residents’ daily lives
which have aroused great concern among the people: in particular; (1) prevention of incidents andaccidents including suicides, traffic accidents, and indicates which threaten the safety of children,(2)Anxiety of being a victim of crimes or accidents and (3) re-establishment of community bonds(betterment of living environments through enhanced neighborhood societies).
Regarding a survey on death rate by unintentional accidents during the past nine years, it was revealed
that the 42.6 deaths (per 100,000 members of the population; same below) in 1999 increased to 50.6
as historical peak in 2003, then fell to 44.1 in 2005. It, however, started to rise again since 2006. Major
causes of deaths have been suicide followed by traffic accidents since 1999.
Figure 4

Mortality cased by injury (per 100,000 people)

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

7

In order to make these circumstances better, Atsugi City decided to introduce Safe Community
strategies in January 2008. Since then, the city has been putting effort on betterment of life andimprovement of safety based on the concept of Safe Community. In addition, in 2009, safety promotion
based on the Safe Community strategies was stipulated as one of main polices toward further
development of the city in our new comprehensive plan for the period between 2009 and 2012.

8

2. Implementation of the Safe Community Project
Table 4. Major activities and events of Safe Community Projects

Year

Activities

2007.9Participation in the Kyoto Safe Community Symposium
Launch research on a Safe Community

2008.1

Announcement of challenge to obtain Safe Community Designation by the Mayor of Atsugi

2008.3

Efforts to become a Safe Community stipulated as a priority item in administrative policies
Participation in the Kameoka City Safe Community Designation Ceremony
Participation in International Conference on Surveillance for Safe Community

2008.4

Establishment of the Atsugi City Safe Community Management Office
Assignment of Atsugi City Safe Community specialists
Study tour to Kameoka City

2008.5

Registration as preparing for applying to be a member of the International Safe Community Network
Inauguration of the Atsugi City Safe Community Working group2008.6

Inauguration of the Atsugi City Safe Community SC Exploratory Committee
Inauguration of Atsugi City Safe Community Steering Committee
Participation in Songpa District Designation Ceremony in Seoul, Korea

2008.7

Visit to the Asia Region Safe Community Certifying Center (Suwon City in Korea)

2008.10

Participation in the 2nd Academic Conference, Japanese Society of Safety Promotion (Tokyo)
Participation in 17th International Safe Community Conference (New Zealand, Christchurch)Social Survey (household survey on safety, health, community, bicycle use)

Note 1

2008.11

Atsugi City Citizens Pep Rally Held to promote efforts for Safe Community Designation

2009.2

Study tour to officials of the WHO Asia Region Certifying Center2009.3

Study tour to Safe Schools (Taiwan)

2009.4First assign of Atsugi City Safe Community Pilot neighborhoods communities
Establishment of the Atsugi City Safe Community Task Force teams

2009.8Note 2

Note 3

Participation in Towada City Safe Community Designation Ceremony
Participation in and presentation to the 3rd Academic Conference, Japanese Society of Safety Promotion

2009.10

Participation in the 5th Asia Region Safe Community Conference (Beijing China)

2009.11

Citizens Pep Rally Held to promote efforts for Safe Community Designation

2010.3

Participation in 19th International Safe Community Conference (Suwon City, Korea)

2010.11

Holding the 4th Academic Conference of the Japanese Society of Safety Promotion (Atsugi)

Note 1) In 2008, Atsugi conducted a social survey to clarify the state of injuries and risk factors.
Note 2) To promote locally rooted initiatives, regional challenges are abstracted and initiatives taken based on the results byassigned seven Pilot neighborhoods communities(Feb.1,2010), conducting questionnaire surveys etc.
Note 3) Eight task forces are established by laterally linking organizations including the city, police, and various other groups,
then based on results of the 2008 social survey and existing statistical data etc., measures are taken to continuously
prevent injuries in Atsugi City.

9

Chapter 3
State of Injuries in Atsugi City
1. Causes of Death(1) Statistical Analysis
Considering the following three tables, it was found that the Atsugi City Safe Community Program must
tackle three challenges: suicides, traffic accidents, and the elderly safety.
Leading causes of deaths in the past five years in Atsugi City show that, between 0- 4 years oldand 10 - 29 years old, the top of leading cause of deaths is intentional accident. Between 20 - 69 years
old, suicide is ranked in the top fives. It should be noted that comparison with traffic accident, thesecond leading cause of death, there is big difference in the number of death. It is especially, apparent
in 30’s as seen the number of death by suicide results in 9 times as many as those by traffic accidents
Table 5 Causes of Deaths by Age Group in Atsugi City (2002 to 2006)
Source: Vital Statistics
Age group
First
SecondThird
FourthFifth
0-4Perinatal disease, congenital abnormalities, respiratory disease
unintentional accident, etc.
5-9
Malignant neoplasm, pneumonia, other external causes
－
－
10-19
unintentional accident
SuicideMalignant neoplasm, cardiac diseases
Other neoplasm
Respiratory
20-29
Suicideunintentional
Other external
Murders and endocrine, nutritional, andaccident
causesdiseases
metabolic disorder
30-39
SuicideMalignant neoplasm
Cardiac disease
Other external causes
unintentional accidents
40-49
Malignant neoplasm
Suicideunintentional accident
Cerebrovascular disease
Cardiac disease
50-59
Malignant neoplasm
Cardiac disease
SuicideCerebrovascular disease
unintentional accident
60-69
Malignant neoplasm
Cardiac disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Pneumonia
Suicide
70-79
Malignant neoplasm
Cardiac disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Pneumonia
Other respiratory diseases
80-89
Malignant neoplasm
Cardiac disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Pneumonia
Other respiratory diseases
90 +Pneumonia
Cardiac disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Malignant neoplasm Senility

Top five deaths by external causes- There are different trends by age groups, as fall ranked at higher at old ages.
-From 10 to 19 years old and from 20 to 69 years old, main causes of death are traffic accidents and suicides.
-Traffic accidents are raked in the top five in all age groups and so do suicides over 10 years old.
-Among 30 to 39 years old, deaths by suicide are as 5 times many as death by traffic accidents.
Table 6 Top Five Causes of Death by External Causes (2002 to 2006)
Source: Vital Statistics
Age group
First
SecondThird
FourthFifthOther unintentional
other external
Traffic accidents, intentional suffocation, murder( 2 each)
0-9
accident(1)causes(5)traffic accidents(7)suicides(4)drowning nearother external
10 - 19drowning(3)cause(1)falling /drowning or nearsuicides(27)traffic accident(10)other externalmurder(2)20 - 29
drowning(1 each)causes (7)Intentional drowning or near drowning/ suffocation/exposure tosuicides(46)other externaltraffic accident(5)30 - 39
smoke, fire, or flame/ murder(1 each)cause(8)suicides(36)traffic accident(10)other externaldrowning or near
falling/murder( 240 - 49
cause (5)drowning(3)each)
drowning or near drowning /Suicides(61)traffic accident(13)falling/ other external causes(9 each)
50 - 59
suffocation(5 each)
Suicides(41)other externalfall(9)traffic accident(8)drowning or near
60 - 69
cause (12)drowning(7)drowning or near drowning/other external cause(13traffic accident(12)suffocation/suicide(10 each)70 - 79
each)
falling/suffocation( 16 each)suicide(9)Traffic accident/ other external causes(8 each)
80 +

10

Death by external causes in the last 8 years (comparison with Kanagawa Prefecture)
The number of death per 100,000 at each age group is higher in Atsugi City compared to that of
Kanagawa prefecture. The percentage of death by external death at the age 0-9 years old and 2-64
years old exceeds those for Kanagawa Prefecture. The gap is largest in the age group of 20 - 44 years
old.
Table 7Comparison of Principal Deaths by External causes (1999 to 2006)

Age group

Percentage of deaths by external

Death rate per 100,000 people
Atsugi City

causesKanagawa Pref.

Atsugi City

Kanagawa Pref.

0-9

9.9

6.1

19.3

13.1

10 - 19

12.2

10.4

54.8

57.0

20 - 44

32.7

28.6

50.8

44.8

45 - 64

55.4

52.4

13.4

12.3

65 +

136.3

134.7

4.1

4.1

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics(2) Mortality by external causes
The number of deaths caused by external causes per 100,000 remained approximately 50 per year
since 2001, and then fell to below 45 in 2005. In 2006, however, it began to rise again. The percentage
of death by external causes out of all death cases peaked in 2001 and fallen afterwards.
Comparing the number of death by external causes to red to Kanagawa Prefecture, all Japan, andAtsugi has been slightly lower since 1999. It is also found that the percentage of death external causes
in Atsugi is higher than the nation and Kanagawa prefecture.
Figure 5. Number (per 100,000 people) and ratio of death by external causes

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

11

Al though there is no big deference in number of death by external causes between male and female in
Kanagawa Prefecture, there is different trend in Atsugi City. In 2007, the death of male fell into 51.1
from 71.8 in a year while that of female grew more than double from 22.5.

Figure 6. Comparison of Number of Deaths by Injuries (per 100,000 people

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

The number of death by external cause has remains low at the younger age groups; 0 to 19 years old.
On the other hand, at the age of 65 and older, number of death by external causes remains higher than
100 every year with wide fluctuation occurring until 2003. It, however, become stable afterwards.

Figure 7. Number of Deaths By external causes in Atsugi City (per 100,000 people by age group)

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

12

Among external causes, suicide remains the highest ratio every year. Especially in 2006, it soared to25.5 persons per 100,000. On the other hand, fall tripled to 4.5 in 2007 from 1.4 in 1999.

Figure 8. Trends in Causes of Deaths by Injuries (per 100,000 people)

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

13

(3) Indicators of mortality by external causes
The number of death per 100,000 by external causes has been increasing since 2004. As a total, maleremains higher number than female although female increased its number more than double in 2007. It
can be seen that the number of death increases as age, especially over the age of 65 years old.
As for unintentional injuries, number of ‘traffic accident’ among children and ‘other unintentional
accidents’ have been increasing. On the other hand, as for intentional injuries, number of suicide at the
middle age remains high and that of elderly has been increasing.
Table 8 Trend of Death and Injuries in 2004 to 2007

Number of death per 100,000
CausesIndicator

2004

2005

2006

2007

48.2

44.1

48.3

49.0

male

58.0

55.1

71.8

51.1

female

37.6

32.0

22.5

46.7

0-9yrs yrs old

4.6

13.9

4.8

4.8

10-19 yrs old

13.6

13.8

26.4

4.7

20-44 yrs old

32.6

30.3

30.4

34.6

45-64 yrs old

55.1

50.3

53.5

37.7

Over 65 yrs old

147.5

118.7

135.2

165.5

22.1

16.6

19.7

23.2

7.2

4.5

7.1

4.9

Death
Sex
All injuries
Ages

death
death

Intentional

Unintentional

Traffic accidents

Fall

Children

0～14 yrs old

0.0

0.0

0.0

3.2

Elderly

Over 65 yrs old

25.8

14.0

19.3

12.0

6.3

3.6

3.1

4.5

29.5

17.5

22.5

18.1

Death
elderly

Over 65 yrs old

Drawing

death

2.7

3.6

2.7

4.0

Suffocation
Exposure to smoke, fireand frame
Poisoned by noxious
substance
Other unintentional
accidents
death

death

2.3

3.6

2.7

3.6

0.5

0.5

0.5

0.9

0.5

0.0

0.5

0.5

2.7

0.9

3.1

4.9

26.1

27.4

28.6

25.8

death

19.4

18.4

25.5

22.3

15-24 yrs old

3.1

13.2

19.9

6.8

25-44 yrs old

29.1

20.0

20.7

29.4

45-64 yrs old

27.5

27.6

40.5

18.0

Over 65 yrs old

18.4

21.0

35.4

51.2

Murder

death

0.0

1.4

0.5

0.0

Other external causes

death

6.8

7.6

2.7

3.6

Suicide

death
death
death

Source: Numbers Calculated by Atsugi City based on Vital Statistics

14

2. Causes of Injuries
Causes of injuries based on ambulance transport data
By Ambulance transport data in 2007 (excluding sudden illness, etc.), traffic accident (1,473 persons
transported at 1,439 accidents) is the most frequent cause, followed by ‘other injuries’ (954 people
transported at 1,010 accidents) and self-injurious actions (123 people transported at 151 cases).

Figure 9. Number of occurrences and number of people transported by accident

Self-injury
Self-injury
Violence
Violence
Other
Otherinjuries
injuries
InjuredInjuredatatsport
sport
ed atatworkplaces
Injuredworkplaces

personInjured bytraffic
trafficaccident
accident

Case

Drawing
Drawing
njured bynatural
naturaldisasterdisaster

Fire
Fire
00

200 100 400
50
150

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Source: Atsugi City Annual Fire-fighting Report for 2008

By age groups, more children and teenagers (age from 7 - 17 years old ) were transported for medical
aid because of injuries by athletic activities, while more people from the age of 18 - 64 years old weretransported as result of suicide attempt.

Figure 10. Percentages of causes among people transported by age group

Source: Atsugi City Annual Fire-fighting Report for 200815

Seeing cause of injuries by severity, water related accidents result in death more than other listedcauses of injuries in the figure 11. Then self-injury follows.

Figure 11. severity of injury by cause

Source: Atsugi City Annual Fire-fighting Report for 2008

Seeing age groups, death takes highest ratio among elderly while severe injury takes the most among
younger generation.

Figure 12. Severity of injuries by age group

Source: Atsugi City Annual Fire-fighting Report for 200816

3. Characteristics of injuries(1) Suicide and Violence (Intentional Injuries)
Suicide and its attempt is one of serious problems in Atsugi City, just like most cities in Japan. By
comparison of suicide rates with all Japan and Kanagawa Prefecture, suicide rate in Atsugi hit the peakof 25.5 persons per 100,000 people in 2006, but started to fall in 2007, and is now far lower than thenational average rate.
Figure 13. Comparison of suicide rates (per 100,000 people)

Source: Vital Statistics

Analyzing cases recorded as suicide, male takes higher rate than female. By age group, the number ofmale in the age 40 - 49 years old is five times higher than that of female.
Reasons of attempting suicide are economic problems, anxiety about illness and mental illness
although, in most cases, no specific motive was found. Because of difficulty in clarifying its causes,
suicide is still considered as an impenetrable problem.
Figure 14. Cases reported as suicide by sex and by age

Figure 15. Causes of suicide by sex

group(People)(People)

120

50

40

34

30

20
0 0

7 5

14

33
14

10

15

19
6

13

60

18
8

Male

90

Male
Female

30

13

33
59

17

27
3

12

Female

99

31

24 21
2

11

31

00

0 0

0
pr
ob

0

le
m
s
Ec
on
I ll
o
n
Em
m
es
ic
s
pl
pr
oy
ob
m
le
en
m
tp
s
R
ro
om
bl
an
em
t ic
s
pr
ob
Sc
le
ho
m
ol
s
pr
ob
le
M
m
en
s
ta
li
lln
es
s
Lo
ne
lin
es
s
O
th
er
s
U
nk
no
w
n

60

H

om
e

0～9 10～19 20～29 30～39 40～49 50～59 60～64 65～69 70～

Source: Police statistics (2003 to 2007)17

In 2008, the number of consultation concerning child abuse in Atsugi City fell sharply from the previous
year. On the other hand, elderly abuse is rising slowly but steadily. Regarding domestic violence, in
response to the April 2001 enforcement by the national government of the Act on the Prevention of
Spousal Violence and the Protection of Victims, Atsugi City held the Atsugi City DV Network Committeewith the cooperation of the concerned divisions and various related offices; child guidance centers, andhealth and welfare offices in 2004. In 2005, child abuse and domestic violence started to be taken careat the same division. Moreover, in 2007, the committee started to work for cases with the Yokohama
Legal Affairs Bureau and the police.
Figure 16. Consultations on abuse and violence(Cases)

200

180

179

150
100

75

67

61

63

50

20

28

20

0
2006

2007

2008

Consultation concerning child abuse
Consultation concerning elderly abuse
Consultation concerning domestic violence

Source: Atsugi City

(2) Traffic accidents
Atsugi City has had higher number of death by traffic accidents compared to the nation and Kanagawa
prefecture until 2004. In 2005, it started to decline then started to rise again in 2008, as seen theincrease of 4.3 people per 100,000 from the previous year.
Figure 17. Comparison of number of traffic accident deaths (per 100,000 people)(People) 10

8
6
4
2
0

Source:

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Atugi City

6.3

6.8

3.6

4.0

1.3

5.7

Kanagaw a Pref.

3.6

3.1

2.9

2.7

2.7

2.1

Nationw ide

6.0

5.8

5.4

5.0

4.5

4.0

calculated by Atsugi City based on police statistics

18

In Atsugi City, the number of accidents and injuries among elderly has been increasing unlike other age
groups. Therefore, with third highest rate of accidents involving elderly among municipalities in
Kanagawa Prefecture, the city was pointed out as a high risk region of senior’s accidents by the
Kanagawa Police Department.

Figure 18. State of traffic accidents in Atsugi City

Source: Police statistics

Intersections are one of high risk points of injury because of busy traffic with large number ofpedestrians, cyclists, and automobiles passing across.
The following table shows intersections where many traffic accidents occurred between 2006 - 2008.
Table 9. Changing traffic accidents at intersections

2006
Taya Intersection
Atsugi Shiritsu Byoin Mae Intersection
Katahira Intersection

2007
19
12
7

Source: Police statistics

19

2008
18
7
7

1
6
6

Total
38
25
20

(3) Anxiety about public safety
Crime rate in Atsugi City has exceeded that of the nation and Kanagawa Prefecture for the past ten
years. Especially in 2001, it hit the highest rate by 1.5 times higher than all Japan and Kanagawa
Prefecture. To make the situation better, residents, administrators, and police started to work together
in 2002. As a result of their effort, by 2007, crime cases registered by the police fell to about half of its
peak. Although hard work has result in this proud achievement, anxiety of public safety among citizens
still remains high.
Figure 19. Comparison of the Number of Penal Code Crime Cases Known to The Police (per 100,000 people)

Source: Calculated by Atsugi City based on Police Statistics①Crimes
The number of crimes resulting in injuries has been increasing since 2007 after decline in 2003.
On the other hand, assault has been gradually decreasing although it still remains around 30 cases
every year. There has been some murder cases reported every year. These situations can be one ofcauses of anxiety among residents. With concerning about these situations, Atsugi City started to workfor crime prevention with variouse organizations.
Figure 20

Comparison of Murders, Assaults, and Bodily Injuries (per 100,000 people)

Source: Calculated by Atsugi City based on Police Statistics

20

② Factors causing negative image of city streets - Frightening, Dangerous, and Dirty Analysis of surveys on anxiety about public safety conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006 revealed signs
and street solicitors of sex parlors, loitering youth have been giving residents’ anxiety. Furthermore,
illegal parking, abandoned bicycles, graffiti, scattered garbage, and dark streets increase feelings ofdisorder and anxiety among residents, as well as reduce cleanness and tidiness of streets in the city.

Evaluation of comprehensive plan to improve security and safety
In the result of the Citizens’ Satisfaction Survey carried out in 2007, “Promoting crime prevention
activities” was listed at the top of priority among other several answers as seen below.
Table 10 Evaluation Score of comprehensive plan s to Improve Security and Safety

Present evaluation

Future importance

0.419

1.627

-0.3101.507

Completion and strengthening of fire-fighting functions-0.023

1.552

Ensuring a safe transportation society-0.543

1.282

Promotion of comprehensive plan s to strengthen disaster
resistanceCompletion of regional disaster prevention measures

Promoting crime prevention activities-0.777

1.704

Ensuring safety of consumers-0.551

1.170

Source: Atsugi City document (Citizens Satisfaction Survey)

In response to the questionnaire survey conducted to 7,000 households in 2007, only 4% of
respondents stated that safety had “improved”, while 83% stated “worsened” or “not changed”. It isclearly demonstrating that there is still high levelof anxiety about public safety among citizens.

Figure 21. Public Safety (comparison with previous year)

As for reasons of anxiety, “anxiety that children
might become victims of crimes”is highest,
followed by “anxiety concerning earthquakes,
storms and flood damage”.
Source: 2008 Survey on Safety, Health and Community

21

Figure 22 Degree of Anxiety Concerning Threats to Daily Life

Source: 2008 Survey on

Safety, Health and Community

Result of a questionnaire survey with the Cell Phone SOS Net has shown that more than 80% of
citizens feel anxiety about “empty streets and dark streets at night” (Figure 23).

Figure 23. In what kinds of places are you uneasy about crime?

Source: Cell Phone SOS Net Questionnaire Survey (2008)22

[Earthquakes]
According to results of several researches, many of residents feel anxiety for natural disasters, Theiranxiety is partially because of high possibility of six large earthquakes hitting to the city in near future.
Therefore, Atsugi City has been putting effort to be well prepared to disasters.

Figure 24. Distribution Map of Hypothetical Earthquake Hypocenter Regions

Source: Atsugi City Region Disaster Prevention Plan (2009)(4) Injuries and accidents at bicycle use
The number of traffic accidents related to bicycles has been declining since 2004(Fig.25).
Figure 25. Number of Bicycle Accidents

Source: Police statistics

23Younger people tend to be more involved with traffic accidents, especially accidents with 19 years oldor younger take about 37% of all bicycle accidents.
Among accidents caused by cyclists, more than half were caused by younger than 15 years old
and in their 20’s. Compared to Kanagawa Prefecture, the age groups of 15 years old or younger,
twenties, and thirties take higher rate. (Fig. 26)

Figure 26. Comparison of Occurrences by Age Group with Kanagawa Prefecture (2007)

Source: Calculated by Atsugi City based on police statistics* Figures on the bar graph are totals of accidents caused by cyclists and accidents in which cyclists were the victims.

Bicycle accidents occur most frequently at sidewalks and lead to Injuries by falling or touching/crashingwith cars.

Figure 27 Locations where Injuries and accidents

Figure 28. Circumstances in which Injuries or accidents

occurredoccurred

Source: 2008 Questionnaire Survey Concerning the Present State of Bicycle Use24

In the question asking what should be done to reduce the bicycle related accidents, ”identifying
dangerous places and causes” takes the top of priority followed by “regulation against illegal
paring“ and “enhancing compliance of traffic rules and improvement of morals”.
★Figure 29. Need for Reduction of Anxiety and Danger Concerning Bicycle Use

Source: 2008 Survey Concerning the Present State of Bicycle Use(5) Children’s’ Injuries and accidents
Among children under 15 years old, most frequent cause of injuries outside homes are fall on roads,
side walks, schools, and parks. Among various causes of injuries, most frequent injury cases of being
treated at hospitals are caused by traffic accidents (55.6%).
On the other hand, the most frequent cause of injuries at home is bumping into furniture, followedby fall from beds or chairs. Injuries which most frequently treated at medical institutions is burned by hotwater, heating appliances and so on(22.2%).
Figure 30. Injuries of Children (under 15) outside their homes

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

25

Figure 31 Injuries of Children (under 15) at their homes

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

Survey on Suspicious behaviors (2004 – 2008)
Cases in which children might have been victims of crimes by prowlers are reported as suspicious
cases. Among those cases, being accosted, shadowed or grabbed on the arm take 25.1%. More thanhalf of children who have had those experience were elementary and middle school girls. And mostcases had occurred while children were going home from schools during 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m..
Figure 32 Types of suspicious cases

Figure 33 victims

Source: Fact-Finding Survey of Suspicious Actions (2004 – 2008)26

(6) Injuries and accidents among the elderly
Among the elderly, the most serious cause of injuries is fall. In the public places, Traffic accident is themost frequent cause of injuries followed by fall. The elderly fall most often on roads and sidewalks.
Besides, there are many injuries occurred at farms, forests, commercial facilities as well.
As for inside buildings, fall is the most frequent cause of injuries. The elderly, especially over 75 years
old, tend to be more often injured, most of which occurred at living rooms and hall ways.
People under 75 years old tend to get injured by cutting as well as falling. As for the places of injuries,
kitchens and yards are ranked as the top two.

Figure 34. Causes of Injuries and Age Group

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

Figure 35. Locations of Injury and Age Group( inside/outside home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

27

Figure 36 Causes of Injuries and Age Group (outside home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

Figure 37. Locations of Injuries and Age Group (at home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

People tend to get medical care more often as they get aged. Residents, especially older than 75 years
old, tend to be hospitalized by injuries caused at home (2.6%) rather than outside of their homes(1.4%).
Figure 38. Use of Medical Treatment Facilities by Age Group (inside/outside home)
Aw ay from Home 75
and older(n=282)
Aw ay from Home 60
to 74(n=1018)
Aw ay from Home 40
to 59(n=1145)
Aw ay from Home 15
to 39(n=1268)

Aw ay from Home
75 and older(n=282)
Aw ay from Home
60 to 74
(n=1018)
Aw ay from Home
40 to 59
(n=1145)
Aw ay from Home
15 to 39(n=1268)

Was injured, and wasadmitted to a
medical treatment
facility
Was injured, andvisited a medical
treatment facility
Was injured, but did
not go to a medical
treatment facility

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0

0.0

28

5.0

10.0

15.0

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community(7) Injuries and accidents at home and leisure[Injuries outside home]
As for outside home, injuries occur most frequently on roads and sidewalks by fall at all age groups.
Traffic accidents, cuts, and abrasions are following causes of injuries.
Seeing injuries by age, the number of fall tends to increase with age, while cuts and stings occur
frequently among younger generations. As for places of injuries occurred, people at the age between
15 -39 years old tend to be injured at school or work, and people at the age 40 - 59 years old are moreinjured at work place and fitness facilities.
Figure 39. Causes of Injuries and Age Group (away from home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community
Figure 40. Locations of Injuries and Age Group (outside home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

29

[Injuries at home]
As for injuries at home, the same trend is found as those occurred outside home; more cuts andabrasions among younger generation and more fall among the elderly are seen compared to outsidehome.
Seeing location of injuries, kitchen is the top of the list among young generation and living rooms, yards,
and hallways become ranked high with age.
Figure 41. Causes of Injuries and Age Group (away from home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community

Figure 42. Locations of Injuries and Age Group (away from home)

Source: 2008 Survey on Sense of Safety, Health and Community30

[Injuries at leisure]Three first class rivers; Sagami River, Koayu River and Nakatu River, run through the city. Many
citizens spend their leisure time along these rivers. Especially the meeting point of these three rivers is
popular for fishing and water related leisure activities. Therefore, there have been some accidents
along riversides every year. Among water related accidents, drowning is the most frequent case as of2007.
Figure 43 Severity by types of injuries

Source: Atsugi City Annual Fire-fighting Report for 200831

(8) Injuries and accidents at work places
Accidents at work places by industry within the jurisdiction of the Atsugi Labor Standards
Inspection Office (2004 – 2008)
Among 12 Labor Standards Inspection Offices in Kanagawa Prefecture, the Atsugi office has beenrecorded as the top or second of ranking of the number of injuries at work places from 2004 to 2008.

Table 11 Number of injuries by Labor Standards Inspection Office in Kanagawa Prefecture (2004-2008)

1

st

2nd

3rd

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Total

Yokohama
Kita
994
Atsugi
868

Atsugi
967

Atsugi
996

Atsugi
978

Yokohama
Kita
942
Yokohama
Minami
834

Yokohama
Kita
989
Yokohama
Minami
865

Yokohama
Kita
962
Yokohama
Minami
790

Yokohama
Kita
967
Atsugi
928

Yokohama
Kita
4,854
Atsugi
4,737

Yokohama
Minami
869

Yokohama
Minami4,144

Yokohama
Minami786

According to records at the Atsugi Labor Standards Inspection Office between 2001 to 2006, 5,333
people were killed or suffered injuries with four or more days absence from work. Out of these killed or
injured people, 1,664 cases(31%) were occurred in Atsugi City, which is highest in the region.
Seeing these cases by type of industry, the manufacturing industry has been taking highest percentage
both within the jurisdiction and in Atsugi City. In the manufacturing industry, one-third of accidents is“being caught between or in objects”, followed by fall. These two types of injuries take more than half of
all injuries. Injuries by being caught between or in objects are assumed to occur with machinery andinjuries by falling occur on hallways or floors of workshops.

Figure 44 Injuries by musicality in the Atsugi Region

Figure 45. Injuries by industry in the Atsugi Region

Death toll
5,333

32

Figure 46. State of Occurrence of Injuries by Accident Type in Manufacturing (2001 – 2006)<<Model of occurrence of accident at workplace>>

Types of injury
UnsafeCondition

Inducing
actor

Harming
actor

Accident

Flawed Condition
contact
Unsafe Condition

Human

Inducing actor：Unsafe, defective status
Harming actor：Directly causing accident

33

Chapter 4
Challenges and Goals
1. Priority challenges facing Atsugi City
Based on results of analysis of statistical documents and public opinion surveys, four main challenges
are set up； “suicide prevention”, “traffic safety”, “decreasing anxiety about public safety”, and “safety ofthe elderly”. Based on these four challenges, Atsugi City has been working for improvement of citizens’
quality of life.

2. Objectives of Atsugi Safe Community(1) Objectives of Priority Challenges① Suicide and Violence(causes of intentional injuries)
Since 1998, more than 30,000 people have commited suicides every year over the country, whichconfront the national government with the challenge of implementing nationwide preventive measures.
In Atsugi City as well, approximately 50 precious lives were lost by suicide every year. Suicides are not
the result of a single reason or cause; but occur as a result of the interaction of a variety of factors
including health problems, hardships of life, and mental illness. To prevent suicides and to support
survivors of suicide attempts and their families, Atsugi City is providing 19 types of consulting services
and will set up one-stop consultation system.
In addition, in collaboration with related organizations, services for prevention of child abuse and seniorabuse should be improved.
②Traffic safety
With initiatives to encourage traffic safety movements and to work for regulation against illegal bicycle
parking, traffic accidents should be reduced to 1,500 by 2014 from 1,899 in 2007.
③Anxiety about public safety
Crime prevention programs will be improved for the goal of reducing crime cases known to the police
from 4,224 in 2008 to 3,590 in 2014, relieving citizens’ anxiety at the same time as it creates a citywhere people can live safely and free from anxiety.
④Elderly safety
The results of a public opinion survey have shown that fall is one of major causes of injuries among theelderly. Fall prevention programs such as exercise instruction and dietary guidance will be introduced toreduce injuries among the elderly.

34

(2) Other important challenges
Following to the four priority challenges listed above, four more challenges are set up as important
challenges as follows;①Children’s safety②Safe bicycle use③Safe home life and leisure④Work place (work) safety
Details about programs on above challenges are explained afterwards.

(3) Reduction of Injuries
With pursuing the priority challenges listed above, Atsugi City is implementing the Safe Community
Program aim to reduce injuries by 7.6% by 2014 from 2008, which would lead citizens live to healthierand safer lives with less anxiety.
Those challenges will result in decline in the percentage of citizens who feel that “The City has
improved with reduction of accidents and injuries”. It will be assessed by improving percentage of
people who feel so to 60.0% by 2014 from 37.2% in 2008.

Figure 47 Trend of injuries（case）
110,000-7.6%

100,000
90,00080,00070,00060,00010,000
0
2008

2009

2010

2011

35

2012

2013

2014

Chapter5
Initiatives Based on Six Indicators
Indicator 1：
An infrastructure based on partnership and collaborations,
governed by a cross- sectional group that is responsible for safety
promotion in their community
1. Safe Community initiatives in the comprehensive plan
Atsugi City declared that the year of 2008 as the first year of citizen cooperation. In orde to solidly
implement citizens’ cooperation without allowing this goal to remain a mere ideal or principle, the city
has enacted Citizen Cooperation as an fundamental policy in its comprehensive plan to promote its
Safe Community initiatives. Atsugi City will become the first city in Japan to establish policy ofvigorously expressing its determination to create a safe city through cooperation with its citizens.
※ Comprehensive Plan”
A plan to implement city improvements through cooperation based on shared understanding of the citizens and the administration
by clarifying the future urban image of Atsugi City and the goals of its improvement and clearly defining policy guidelines andsystems provided to achieve these goals.
Based on the comprehensive and systematic performance of administrative management, plans and policies in each field areenacted and implemented based on this plan.

2. Cross-organizational safety promotion group(1) Atsugi Safe Community Steering Committee (76 members)[Roles]A steering body to set up directions and priority policies. Meetings
are held about every four months.
Atsugi Safe Community Steering
Committee[Members]-Atsugi Jichikai Renraku Kyogikai-Atsugi Medical Association-Atsugi Hospital Association-Atsugi Dental Association-Atsugi City Council of Welfare Officers and Children’s Committee Members-Federation of Atsugi Senior Citizens’ Clubs-Atsugi City Social Welfare Association-Hon-Atsugi Station District Environmental Cleanliness Association-Traffic Safety Association-Atsugi City Traffic Safety Leaders Association-Crime Prevention Guidance Liaison Committee-Atsugi Chamber of Commerce-Atsugi City Agricultural Cooperative-Atsugi City Liaison Federation of Youth Sound Growth Associations

36

-Atsugi City Children’s Association Training Liaison Council-Schools-Atsugi Labor Standards Inspection Office-Atsugi Police Department-Kanagawa Prefecture Central Region Prefectural Administrative Center-Kanagawa Prefecture Atsugi Public Works Office-Kanagawa Prefecture Atsugi Health Care and Welfare Office-Kanagawa Prefecture Atsugi Children’s Consultation Office, Atsugi City, etc.
(2) Organization within Atsugi City administration[Roles]An organization established by concerned divisions in City Office for effective implementation ofprojects. Meetings are held three times a year.
① Atsugi City Safe Community Exploratory Committee (19 members)② Atsugi City Safe Community working group (23 members)
Atsugi City Safe Community Exploratory Committee

Atsugi City Safe Community working group(3) Atsugi City Safe Community Task Force Teams* Detail is explained at table 12 in p 40.

(4) Injury Surveillance Committee[Roles]An organization which takes analysis, evaluation, and study of
injury-related data to diagnose community safety[Members]-Atsugi Medical Association-Atsugi Police Department-Atsugi Fire Department-Atsugi Health and Welfare Office-Tokai University.

-Concerned bureaus of the city,37

(5) Pilot neighborhood communities
Detail is explained at table 13 in p43.

(6) Safe Community working group at Atsugi Police[Roles]A cross sectional organization at Atsugi Police to work on “traffic
safety ” and “ feeling of safety and public safety ” which arechallenges of Safe Community program of Atsugi City(established
January 1, 2009).
Atsugi Police has been taking important roles Atsugi City Safe
Community Project through this organization.

[Structure]□Task Force Leader:

Commissioner□Assistant Leader:

Assistant Commissioner□Assistants:

Deputy Chief of Region, Deputy Chief of Detectives,□Deputy Chief of Traffic Affairs
Taskforce Members, police administration: Chief of House Police Division
Community Safety Force; Chief of the division of Community Safety□Regional Force:

Chiefs of Regional Divisions 1, 2 and 3□Detective Force:

Chiefs of Detective Divisions 1 and 2□Traffic Safety Force:

Chiefs of Traffic Divisions 1 and 2□Security Force:

Chief of Security Division.

3. Community organization
Neighborhood Associations (Jichikai)
Neighborhood associations have been conducting various activities for safety promotion such as safety
promotion campaign by wearing “Safe vest”, Eyes with Love program, voluntary disaster prevention
programs and so on.

4. Section of Safe Community at Atsugi City government(1)Supervisor for Safe Community
A supervisor was appointed to create a safe and anxiety-free city based on the Safe Community
concept in April 2008.

38

(2) Section of Safe Community
The section of Safe Community was set up with the Deputy Chief, Division Chief and six officers in
Atsugi City government.
This is the first section to concentrate on Safe Community at administration level I Japan, while
there are already designated communities, Kameoka City and Towada City. The section of Safe
Community is undertaking Safe Community initiatives with the Taskforce Committees and the pilotneighborhoods communities by acting as the implementing organizations under the direction of the
Safe Community Leadership.

5. Safe Community Promotion System
City-wide movement in Atsugi City

Collaboration

Injury SurveillanceCommittee
Analyzes, evaluates, andstudies data based on injuries
and safety diagnoses

Local governments
and related organizations
Effectively integrate existing safety
promotion activities

Atsugi CitySC Steering Committee

SC Taskforce teams[Program implementation decision]

SC Pilotneighborhoods
communities
Implementation ofprograms in conformity
with regional conditions【Conduct 8 programs】● Violence and Suicide
Atsugi City SC exploratory Committee[Prepares program drafts]

Prevention● Traffic Safety● Feeling of safety and public
safetyAtsugi City SC working committee[Studies program policies]● Elderly Safety● Children’s Safety● Safe Bicycle use

Collection, provision
And use of information● Safe homes and leisure● Work place (work) safety39Eight SC Taskforce teams
Based on the 11 categories of safety promotion described in the SC guideline, Atsugi has set up 8
taskforce teams to solve risks about safety in various settings.
For risks which are not dealt by the 8 taskforce teams, conditions are accordingly analyzed and causes
will be found to improve situation in future,

Table 12 Members of the 8 SC Taskforce Committees

Taskforce Teama. Violence &SuicidesPrevention

Programs Activities
Support measures for
suicide attempt
survivors

Long-term Goal
To reduce suicides as oneof main issues at thenational level.

・Support for familiesof suicides
Prevention PR
activities

b. Traffic safety

c. Feeling of safety& Public safety

・Measures fordangerous places in
Wards where accidents
occur frequently

To improvement ofintersections withfrequent accidents

・Holding contests

To reduce overall traffic
accidents

・Crime prevention byregional safetymeasures using (patrol
cars with blue lights)

To prevent crimes tomake our city streets
where citizens can feel noanxiety about crime

40

Members[ Chair]
Atsugi Medical Association[Deputy Chair]
Local welfare commissioner[Members]-Atsugi Labor Standards Inspection
Office-Atsugi Police Department-Atsugi Health Care and Welfare
Office-Atsugi City Social Welfare
Association-concerned sections of Atsugi
City[ Chair]
Atsugi City Traffic Safety
Leaders Association[Deputy Chair]
Atsugi City Mothers Committee
Liaison Association for Traffic
Safety[Members]-Traffic Safety Associations in the
Jurisdiction of Atsugi Police
Department-Atsugi Police Department-Atsugi City Hospital-Concerned sections of Atsugi City
[ Chair]
Division of community planning ,Atsugi City
[Deputy Chair]
Aikawa Ward community
management Council[Members]-Safe community Liaison
Committee-Ichikita Ward community
management Council-Atsugi Police Department
Concerned bureaus of Atsugi City

Taskforce Teamd. Elderly Safety

e. Children’s
SafetyPrograms Activities
Preventing fallingthrough exercise
and good dietary
habitsLong-term Goal
To reduce senior’s
injuries caused by falling

Measures to protect
children fromsuspicious people

To nurture children’sability to keep themselvessafe (predicted)“

To reduce cost of medical
and nursing care for
elderly.

Preventing accidents
in children’s centers
Preventing accidents
in schools

f. Safe Bicycle

・Improvement of driving
environments
・User compliance withroles and manners

To develop harmonious
coexistence of bicycles,
pedestrians, andautomobiles
To create “cyclists friendly
streets” where residents
can bike safely

41

Members[ Chair]
Federation of Atsugi Senior
Citizens’ Clubs[Deputy Chair]
Atsugi City Physical Training
Instructors Liaison Council,[Members]-Atsugi City Regional Welfare
Promotion Council-Dietary Habit Improvement
Promotion Group(Ajimikai)-concerned divisions of Atsugi City
[ Chair]
Atsugi City Elementary andMiddle School PTA Liaison
Council[Deputy Chair]-Atsugi City Youth Leaders
Liaison Council-Atsugi City Children’s
Association Training Liaison
Council[Members]-Atsugi City Children’s Center
Liaison Council- Atsugi City Mothers Committee
Liaison Association for Traffic
Safety-concerned Divisions of Atsugi City
[ Chair]
Traffic Safety Associations in
the Jurisdiction of Atsugi Police
Department[Deputy Chair]
Youth Traffic Safety Liaison
Associations in the Jurisdictionof the Atsugi Police Department,[Members]-Atsugi City Traffic Safety
Leaders Association- Atsugi City Mothers Committee
Liaison Association for Traffic
Safety-Kanagawa Prefecture Bicycle
Merchants Cooperative
Association-Atsugi Branch-Atsugi Police Department-Atsugi Fire Department-Concerned Divisions of Atsugi
CityTaskforce Teamg. Safe Home andJeisurePrograms Activities
Preventing water
accidents
Preventing accidents
in homes（ elderly
people）.

h. Work Place
Safety・ Prevention of
accidents in the
manufacturingindustries

Long-term Goal
To improve safety atrivers and environments
where people can enjoy
leisure time.
To improve of theenvironment to prevent
accidents inside andoutside home.

To reduce industrial
accidents by setting
concrete goals based on
statistical data.

Members[ Chair]-Atsugi-kita Chiku Jichikai(neighborhood association)-Renraku Kyogikai[Deputy Chair]
Atsugi Tourism Association[Members]-Federation of Sagami River
Fishery Cooperative Associations-Atsugi Ward Boy Scouts Liaison
Council-Atsugi City Fire Department-Concerned Divisions of Atsugi City
[ Chair]-Amadera Safety and Hygiene
appointed Group[Deputy Chair]-Kanagawa Prefecture Inland
Industrial Park Cooperative
Association[Members]-Kanagawa Prefecture Work Safety andHygiene Association - Atsugi Branch-Atsugi Chamber of Commerce-Atsugi Medical Association-Atsugi Labor Standards
Inspection Office-Atsugi Police Department-Atsugi Fire Department-concerned Divisions of Atsugi
Citya. Violence & suicides
prevention

b. Traffic safety

c. Public safety

d. Senior’s Safety

e. Children’s safety

f. Safe bicycle useg. Safe homes & leisureh. Work place safety42Initiatives at Safe Community Pilot neighborhood communities
Atsugi City had, in addition the 8 SC task forces mentioned above, appointed 4 pilot neighborhood
communities to promote initiatives rooted in the community. They have carried out questionnaire
surveys and hold workshops to undertake initiatives which conform to the results of the identification of
local problems. 3 more Wards have also been appointed as pilot neighborhoods communities withexpectation of pioneering SC activities.
Table 13 Configuration of the 7 SC Pilot neighborhood communities

Pilot Ward

Programs

TargetMeasuresages
a. Shimizu kids Sound
Network Meeting

・Injury prevention at school・Prevention of head injury bybicycles・Improving bicycle riding skills
・Improving cyclists manners

Pupils・Data collecting by making School
injury maps
・Distributing warning pamphlets
・Holding safe cycling training classesb. Tomuro Ward
Federation of
Neighborhood
Association

・Bicycle accident
prevention
・measurement against
Suspicious behaviors
measures・Safety improvement at Park

PupilsStudents

・Preparing safety maps
・Distributing warning pamphlets
・Installing warning signs etc.
・Carrying out traffic safety and crime
prevention patrols
・Holding traffic safety classes &training sessions
・Cleaning parks etc.

c. Kamisanda
Neighborhood
Association

・Regional safety inspections- Safe Youth- Crime prevention- Improvement ofenvironments

All ages

・Safety inspections using checksheetsd. Mirai Bunka
Kawamoto
Neighborhood
Association

・Measurement of youth
loitering・Measurements for risk spotsof traffic accident
・Measurement for places
where suspicious people arereported
・Crime prevention

All ages・Carrying out crime prevention patrols
・Preparing and distributing dangerous
location maps
・Holding crime prevention classes

e. 3rd Shimokawairi
Neighborhood
Association
f. Koayu safety watch
for children

Examine effective measures according to results of surveys and workshops are planned
to be conducted in futureg. Nishinaka
Neighborhood
Association

43

a. Shimizu kids Sound Network Meetingb. Tomuro Ward Federation of Residents Associationsc. Kamisanda Residents Associationd. Mirai Bunka Kawamoto Residents

44

Association

Indicator 2:
Long-term, sustainable programs covering both genders and allages, environments, and situations
1. Programs covering all ages and environments
Safety promotion programs implemented in Atsugi City can be categorized into the following 10 groups;(1) Suicide and Violence prevention programs,(2) Road traffic safety programs,(3) Feeling of safety and Public Safety programs,(4) Elderly people programs(5) Children’s safety programs,(6) Home and leisure safety programs,(7) Work place safety programs,(8) Disaster prevention programs,(9) Community safety programs,(10) Safe community PR programs
Each group has been conducting programs which can fit into Safe Community programs as shown in
the tables below. Achievements of these programs are shown under “4. Achievements/” in p71.
Table 14 Programs Covering all Ages and Environments

Major environments
Suicides/Violence
Traffic

Initiatives

Education

Environment
enforcement
Crime prevention/ Feeling of safety

Home/leisure

Education
Environment

Work place/work
Disaster prevention
Communities/schools

Children
(<14)
1-a
2-b
6-b
9-b
2-a~e
9-b
2-b
3-a~c
5-d~g
9-c~e
5-a,c
6-b
8-a,b

Education
Environment
Education

Environment
Others

8-a~c
5-a~g
9-b
10 - a ~ c
5-b,d~f
9-b~d
6-b
9-a

Youth
(15 – 24)
1-a
2-b
9-c

Adults(25 - 64)1-a
1-b

Elderly(65 +)
1-a
1-b,f

2-c,e
9-c
2-b
3-a~c
5-d~g
9-c~e
1-a,b

2-c,e
9-d,e
2-b
3-a~c
9-d,e

2-c~e
9-d,e
2-b
3-a~c
9-d,e

1-a,b

8-a,b

8-a,b

1-a,b
4-a
4-b~d
6-c
8-a,b

7-a,b
7-a,b
8-a~c
9-b,c
10 - a ~ c

7-a,b
7-a,b
8-a~c
10 - a ~ c8-a~c
10 - a ~ c

7-a
9-c~d
6-b
9-a

7-a
9-c~d
6-b
9-a

7-a
9-c~d
6-b
9-a

※This table uses the numbers and codes of Safety Programs beginning in the following pages.

45

2. Long-Term and Sustainable Programs(1) Suicide and Violence Prevention Programs
Programs
a. Temporally
protective
custody programfor DV victims

TargetVictims ofdomestic
violence

Environment
Home

PurposeProtect victimsof domestic
violence

PeriodAll yearb. Liaison Council
for Suicide
Prevention

All ages

All situation
andenvironments

Suicideprevention

All yearPartners
・ Concerned divisions of
Atsugi City・ Atsugi ChildCounseling Office・ Atsugi Health andWelfare Office,・ Atsugi Office of the
Yokohama Legal Affairs
Bureau,・ Atsugi Police
Department
・ Division of Children &home・ Medical Association
・ Association ofCommunity Social
workers
・ Council of Social
welfare・ Liaison Council for

Suicide Prevention
a. Temporally protective custody program for DV victims
To protect and support victims of domestic violence, the DV (Domestic Violence) Prevention Network
Council was established with relevant organizations.
b

b

b

b

b. Liaison Council for Suicide Prevention
To coordinate and implement measures of suicide
prevention, Liaison Council for Suicide Prevention wasformed in April 2008.
During the Suicide Prevention Week starting September
10, which was appointed by the national government,
street campaigns are conducted and books on suicide
prevention are displayed at the City Central Library.

46

(2) Traffic Safety Programs
Programs
a. Car seatpromotion
project

TargetInfants

Environment
Automobiles

PurposePrevention of
infants’ injuries

PeriodAll yearPartners
Division of Traffic Safety
Businessesb. Traffic Safetymeasures

All
ages

Roads

Prevention of traffic
accidents causedby drinking &driving,Prevention of illegal
parking

All yearc. Repairing
dangerous
spots on roads
d. Improvement ofTraffic/roads
environments

All
ages

Roads

All yearChildrenElderly

Roads
Sidewalks

Improvement oftraffic
environment
Prevention of
injuries by falling

Traffic Safety Measure
CouncilTraffic Safety Guides
Atsugi City Mothers
Committee Liaison
Association for Traffic
SafetyWard Community Center
Safe City Council, etc.
Office of Road Repair

e. Safe Bicycle
ProgramAll
ages

Sidewalksf. Traffic Training
games forelderly

Elderly

All traffic
environment

All year

Division of Community
Road

Prevention of
bicycle accidents

2009～
2012

Improvement ofability to avoid
traffic accident

All yearAtsugi Police
Traffic Safety Associationin Atsugi Region
Traffic Safety Guides
Association
Division of Traffic
Congestion
Police Department
Division of Traffic safety
Traffic Safety Associationin Atsugi Region
Traffic Safety Guides
Associationa. Car seat promotion project
Car seats (for infants) are lent for free to drivers to protect their children from traffic accidents. By 2007,
6,775 car seats had been lent since April 2000 when the program started.
b. Traffic Safety Measures
Various programs are set up such as; setting up a private organization of traffic monitoring center,
campaigns for traffic safety, stop drinking & driving, accident prevention for elderly and stop illegal
parking.
c. Repairing dangerous spots on roads
The City inspects dangerous places on city roads by several special vehicles and repairs relatively
simple troubles at sight to ensure safety of automobiles and pedestrians.

47

d. Improvement of Traffic/roads environments
Sidewalks are improved to barrier-free by eliminating level differences and reducing the steepness oflateral and longitudinal slopes. Beside, more traffic sighs of “STOP” have been installed on spots where
drivers are required to put special attention on the visibility.
e. Safe Bicycle Program
e-1,Environment for bicycle has been improved as seen at p72 ”-Roads have been improved as below based on the plan of improvement of environment for safe
biking.
2009 Hon-Atsugi Matsue Line (450m)
2010 Hon-Atsugi Okada Line(570m)
2011

Hon-Atsugi Matsue Line(110m),
Hon-Atsugi Teishaba-Asahi Line(East of the station 460m, West of the station 460m)

2012 Hon-Atsugi Matsue Line(260m), Satsuki Street( 670m), Hon-Atsugi Tamura-cho Line(600m)

e-2. Campaign for manner up of bicycle users
Promotion of the use of recommended routes for bicycle and raise awareness of high-risk spots has
been conducted by distribution of pamphlets and safety maps.
f. Traffic Training games for elderly
Elderly can learn about risks on traffic by enjoying game style training programs.
e

a

b

c

d

2009年度
2010年度
2011年度
2012年度以降
タウンモールf48

(3) Feeling of Safety & Public Safety Programs
Programs
a. Street crime
prevention
programs

TargetAll ages

Environment
All city areas

Purposeprevention of Street
crimesPeriodAll yearb. Installation of
Crime prevention
lightsAll ages

All city areas

Crime prevention atnight time

All yearc.Provision ofcrime rlated
information

All ages

All city areas

Improvement ofawareness about
safetyAll yeara. Street crime prevention programs

Partners
・ Atsugi Police Office・ Division of Life Safety
・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Division of Life Safety
・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Atsugi Police Office・ Division of Life Safety
・ Ward Community
Centersaa

Citizen safety advisors go on patrols withspecific vehicles called “Patochan-Go” andcatch street crimes as voluntary crime
prevention activities.

b

32Ｗ
20Ｗ

b. Installation of Crime prevention lights
Crime prevention lights are installed atdangerous locations with low visibility on
roads and dark public places.

c. Provision of crime related information
Through the Cell Phone SOS Net, information for crime prevention is provided to concernedorganizations. Furthermore, data on penal code crime are analyzed and distributed to relevantorganizations.

49

(4) Safe Elderly Programs
Programs
a. Improvement ofmotility function

TargetElderly

Environment
Homes/
Leisuresetting

Purposeimprovement ofmotility function

PeriodAll yearb. Publicity ofdisaster information

Elderlyliving
alone

Homes

Support of elderly
who need support
at emergency

All yearc. Installation ofself-action fire
distinguishers & fire
alarmsElderly-bed
ridden- living
alone

Homes

Fire prevention for
elderly who needspecial support

All yeard. Furnitureturn-overprevention

Elderly-bed
ridden- living
alone

Homes

Injury prevention
by turned overfurniture

All yeare. Home safety
support program

Elderly

Homes

Prevention of
injuries among
elderly

All yearf. Traffic Training
games for elderly

Elderly

All traffic
environment

Improvement ofability to avoid
traffic accident

All yearPartners
・ Division of long-term care
Insurance
・ Community General
Support Center・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Community Social
workers
・ Division of Fire Defense& Control・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Community Social
workers
・ Volunteer Fire Company
・ Division of Elderly
Welfare・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Community Social
workers
・ Division of Elderly
Welfare・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Community Social
workers
・ Division of Elderly
WelfareTraffic Safety
Association in thejurisdiction of Atsugi
PoliceTraffic Safety Guides
Council
Division of Traffic Safety
Police Officea. Improvement of motility function
To improve motility function which effectively prevents falls and injuries, exercise instruction is given toelderly people.
b. Publicity of disaster information
Information about senior residents living alone is stored on mapping data and made the use forproviding them with support in emergency such as natural disaster.
c. Installation of self-action fire distinguishers & fire alarms
Automatic fire extinguisher and fire alarms are supplied to senior registrants living alone, being

50

bedridden and dementia.
d. Furniture turn-over prevention
To prevent registered elderly who are living alone, bedridden and dementia from injury at disasters
such as earthquakes, panels to prevent furniture from turning over are distributed for free of charge.
e. Home safety support program
See “(6) Home and Leisure Safety Programs” in p 55
f. Traffic Training games for elderly
See “(2) Traffic Safety Programs” in p47

e
a

c

d

51

(5) Children’s Safety Programs
Programs
a. Injury
surveillance forchildrenTargetInfants
PupilsEnvironment
・Day Care
Centers
・Children’sCenters

PurposeGrasping situationof injuries inchildhood

PeriodAll yearb. Improvement ofenvironment at
Children’s centers

Infants
Pupils・Children’sCenters

Improvement ofplay environments

All yearc. Training fordanger predictionYoungchildren

Homes
Play grounds

Improvement of
danger prediction
ability

All yeard. Eyes of love
movement

Pupils・School
commutingroutesProtecting children
from crimes andtraffic accidents

All year

Students

e. Shelter points

Pupils・Community

Providing children
with shelters inemergency

All year・Community

Providinginformation about
potential crimes

All year・Community

Prevention ofchildren from f
crimes-Improvement ofenvironment-Improvement ofability of safetycontrol

All year

Students

Students

Students

f. Cell Phone SOS
Net

Pupilsg. Providing crime
prevention buzzers

Pupilsh. International Safe
School at Shimizu
Elementary School

pupilsStudents

Students
・School androutes between
School andhomes

All yearPartners
・ Steering committee ofChildren’s hall・ Division of Juvenile
・ Division of Day Care・ Division of Children’s
Affairs
・ Steering committee ofChildren’s hall・ Division of Juvenile
・ Division of Day Care・ Steering committee ofChildren’s Centers
・ Division of Juvenile
・ Division of Day Care・ Board of Education
・ Ward Citizens’ Center・ Schools
・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Safe City Council
・ Senior Clubs
・ Division of Life Safety
・ Individuals
・ Stores・ Medical Association
・ Board of Education
・ Schools
・ Registrants
・ concernedorganizations
・ Board of Education
・ Schools
・ PTA・ Shimizu Kids Sound
Network Meeting(PTA, Shimizu School,
neighborhoods Association,
Senior Club, and otherrelated organizations)a. Injury surveillance for children
Injury surveillance has been conducted at children’s centers, day care centers, and after school carecenters. Records on 8 items such as time, place and cause of injury are analyzed and results ofanalysis are analyzed for injury prevention at those children’s facilities.
This evidence based approach, introduced by launching of SC projects, has led new trials for safety
promotion in the city.

52[Children’s Center]
As a result of industrialization and urbanization by high economic growth After the Second World War,lack of playground and frequent occurrence of child's traffic accident became social issues.
Furthermore, with women started to have full time work, children became to have less opportunity toplay outside after schools. Therefore, to provide safety play environment, Atsugi City started to set up
37 Children’s Centers at ward level since 1967. Each Center has facilities such as play rooms, libraryrooms and traditional Japanese rooms, and 3~5 instructors to watch children’s safety. 9 Children’sCenters is attached to the Centers for elderly to provide communications between children and elderly
people. Children’s Centers were managed by communities andaccumulated total of 3800,000 children play at the centers every
year. Children come to the Centers after school and weekends andplay with friends at different ages and experience various activities.
There centers also offer opportunity of playing for babies and of
sharing information and experience for their parents in the weekday
mornings.
<<Survey on Children’s accidents and injuries>>
The Atsugi City conducted a surveillance of injuries and accidents at Children’s Centers. Result ofanalysis revealed that frequent accidents were "fall" as 64 cases (36.2%), “collision with a person or an
object" as 57 cases (32.2%). Among them, 21 cases (11.9%) were transferred to medical facilities.
The followings are outline of the survey;
Term: May 2008―March 2010
Sample: 562,542 infants, children and students playing at Children’s Centers.
Method: Instructors fill up record sheets such as “situation of injury and causes”, Cases of injuries wereanalyzed according to accidents kinds.

Based on the result of the survey, Children’s Centers improve safe environment and train children safe
education.
Injurycases

Fall down

64

Collide with person or
object

57

Place

23

Cut

18

Fall

8

Heat source

1

Others

6

Total

177

Heat source
Others 3.4%
0.6%
Fall 4.5%
Cut 10.2%

Place 13.0%

Collide withperson or
object 32.2%

53

Fall down
36.2%

b. Improvement of environment at Children’s Centers
Based on the results from the surveillancebexplained above as “a. Injury surveillance forchildren”, environments at children’s center had
been improved such as removing materials which
may cause accidents and injuries.
c. Training for danger prediction
Children’s centers give children trainings to improvecctheir ability to predict and avoid possible dangers byusing pictures.
More information at “a. Training for danger prediction”
at p56d. Eyes of love Program
To ensure pupils and students’ safety on their way to andfrom school, volunteer residents stand along their routes and watch over children.
dee. Shelter points
To protect pupils and students from suspicious
individuals, homes and stores are assinghed as
shelters where children can run for help wheneverthey feel danger.
h-2
f. Cell phone SOS Net

h-1

To alert about crimes and suspicious individual incommunities, reported information on those cases isprovided to pupils and students at their cell phones bycell-phone text-messaging.
g. Providing crime prevention buzzers
Crime prevention buzzers are provided to all elementary school pupils and junior high school students
who want the service.
h. International Safe School programs at Shimizu Elementary School
To make school environment safer, Shimizu Elementary School is working for safety promotion under
the seven indicators of he International Safe School Project based on activities of Shimizu kids Sound
Network Meeting.
h-1. Injury surveillance at school54h-2. Promotion if bicycle helmet(6) Home and Leisure Safety Programs
Programs
a. Training fordanger prediction

TargetYoung
childrenEnvironment
Homes
Play grounds

b. Children’s Biking
Competition for
Traffic Safety

PupilsStudents

Road

Purpose
Improvementof danger
prediction
ability
Prevention of
bicycleaccidents

PeriodAll yearPartners
・ Steering committee ofChildren’s Centers
・ Division of Juvenile
・ Division of Day Care

Every July

・
・
・

・

c. Home safety
support program

ElderlyHome

Prevention of
injuries athome

All year・・・・

d. Motility function
improvement
programs

Elderlye. Publicity ofdisaster information

Elderlylivingalone

Home
LeisureHome

improvementof motility
function

All year

Providing
support toelderly at
emergency

All year

・
・
・
・
・
・

f. Installation ofself-action fire
distinguishers & fire
alarmsElderly-bed
ridden- living
alone

Home

Elderly-bed
ridden- living
alone

Home

h. Injury prevention
at ports events

All ages

Sports events

Prevention ofsports injuries

All yeari. River Patrol

All ages

Along rivers

Water safety

All yearg. Furnitureturn-overpreventionFire
prevention for
elderly whoneed special
supportAll year

Injuryprevention by
turned overfurniture

All year

・
・
・
・
・
・

55

・
・
・
・
・

Police Office
Schools
Traffic Safety
Association in thejurisdiction of Atsugi
PoliceTraffic Association Guide
Association Kanagawa
Pref. Traffic Safety
Association
Division of Traffic Safety
Neighborhood
Association
Community social
workers
Division of Elderly
WelfareDivision of long-termcare Insurance
Community General
Support Center
Neighborhood
Association
Community social
workers
Volunteer Fire
companies
Division of Fire Defense& Control
Neighborhood
Association
Community social
workers
Division of Elderly
WelfareNeighborhood
Association
Community social
workers
Division of Elderly
WelfareHosting organizations
Medical Association
Fire Department
Division of Sports
Fire Department

a. Training for danger prediction
Based on the results of survey explained at “Figure 30 Injuries ofaaChildren (under 15) outside their homes” “Figure 31 Injuries ofChildren (under 15) at their homes” at “(5) Children’s’ Injuries andaccidents” in p25, programs to improve ability of risk prediction has
been developed and provided to children.
b. Children’s Biking Competition for Traffic SafetybChildren gain knowledge and skills of bicycle use, and learn how to prevent
accidents as well as enjoyment of riding bicycles.
c. Home safety support program
Considering that falls inside and around homes are of high risk among
elderly as seen at “Figure 35. Locations of Injury and Age Group( inside/outside home)” and “Figure 36
Causes of Injuries and Age Group (outside home)”, the city subsidizes costs of removing level
differences and installing handrails in homes for elderly who are not covered by the Long term careinsurance.
d. Motility function improvement programs
Considering fall as one of high risk of injuries among elderly as seen atd“Figure 35. Locations of Injury and Age Group( inside/outside home)” and“Figure 36 Causes of Injuries and Age Group (outside home)”, exercise
programs are provided to senior to improve their motility function, since
improvement physical function is also expected to contribute to reduction of
injuries at cases of fire and disasters.

fe. Publicity of disaster information
See “(4) Safe Elderly” in p 50
f. Installation of self-action fire distinguishers & fire alarms
See “(4) Safe Elderly” in p 50
ghg. Furniture turn-over prevention
See “(4) Safe Elderly“ in p 50
h. Injury prevention at ports events
In order to provide immediate medical and health services, Public health nurses or doctors aredispatched at various sports events. AED( automated external defibrillator) are also arranged foriemergency.
i. River Patrol
See “(8) Disaster Prevention Programs” in p57
56

(7) Work Place Safety Program
Programs
a. Certification forsafety with
“Emergency”
logo
b. Voluntary Work
Place Safety
PatrolTargetAll ages

Environment
All city areas

Purposelife-saving ofcardiopulmonaryarrest patients

PeriodAll yearworkers

Companies inindustrial
complexes

Prevention of
accidents at work
placesAll yeara. Certification for safety with “Emergency” logo

Partners
Corporations
Emergency life-saving
Division
Public Facilities
Amadera Safety andHygiene AppointedGroup,
Kanagawa Prefecture
Inland Industrial Park
Cooperative Association
Atsugi Labor Standards
Inspection OfficeaaThe “emergency” logo is issued to facilities where
AED (automatic external defibrillator) are set up andemployees are trained with proper use of AED.
b. Voluntary Work Place Safety Patrol
In order to prevent injuries at work places andimprovework

environment,

businesses

in

b

b

the

Amadera Occupational Complexes go on mutual
patrol for safety check at work environment incollaboration

with

the

AtsugiLabor

Standards

Inspection Office.
More information at “(8) Work place safety” at p74
In future perspective, it is understood that trials for safety promotion should be made to contribute tocommunities.
(8) Disaster Prevention Programs
Programs
a. Comprehensive
disaster drill

TargetAll ages

Environment
Homes

PurposeDisasterb. River patrols

All agesRiver

Flood damage
prevention

All yearc. Installation of fire
extinguishers oncity streets

All ages

All city areas

Fire damage
prevention

All yearcorrespondence

57

PeriodEvery
SeptemberPartners
・ Volunteer firecompany・ Designated publicorganization
・ Division of Disaster
Prevention
・ Ward Community
Centers
・ Atsugi Fire
Department
・ Division of Disaster
Prevention

a. Comprehensive disaster drill
Residents and administrative bodies cooperativelyaaa

conduct practical training in order to minimize thedamage caused by national disasters such as
earthquakes.
bb. River patrols
Officials periodically go on patrol along rivers and river beds to prevent water
accidents and fires.

c. Installation of fire extinguishers on city streetsc

Since 1980, street fire extinguishers have been installed throughout the city. Larger
fire extinguishers have been also installed in residential areas. Those fire
extinguishers are regularly maintained by the city government.
* There are now 2,750 street fire extinguishers (powder type 10) installed throughout the city, and large
fire extinguishers (two type 50) are installed at 33 locations. The street fire extinguisher installation
standards are appropriately 1 for every 40 households.

(9) Community Safety Programs
Programs
a. Training course ofvolunteer interpreters
at disaster

TargetCitizens
fromforeigncountries

Environment
Disaster

PurposeTranslation of disaster
information and provision
to citizens who don’t
understand Japanese

PeriodAll yearPartners･Disaster
volunteerinterpreters
・Division of
Human rights andgender equalityb. Activities by pilotgroupsAll year・Shimizu kids
Sound Network
Meeting

pupilsSchools
communities-Injury prevention-Prevention of bicycle
accidents

PupilsStudents

Community

All ageCommunity-Reduce victim bysuspicious individuals-Prevention of bicycle
accidents
Overall Community safety

・Tomuro Ward
Federation of
Neighborhood
Association
・Kamisandaneighborhood
Association

All ageCommunity

Crime Prevention
Reducing risky points

Mirai Bunka
Kawamotoneighborhood
Associationa. Training course of volunteer interpreters at disaster
Volunteer interpreters are trained to provide information to foreign residents who require58assistance during disasters because of their inadequate language skill.
b. Activities by pilot groups
See activities in p43.
b

b

b

b

(10) Safe Community PR Programs
Programs
a. Training
workshops

TargetAll ages

Environment
All City Areas

Purpose
Improvement ofawareness andknowledge of Safe
Community

PeriodAll yearb. Media relations

All ages

All City Areas

All yearc. Enlightenment
activities

All ages

All City Areas

Improvement ofawareness andknowledge of Safe
Community
Improvement ofawareness andknowledge of Safe
Communitya. Training workshops
At training workshops held in 2008 anda

All yeara

2009, approximately 5,000 people
including citizens, city employees, andmembers of relevant organizations
learned about Safe Communities.
b. Media relations
Information about Safe Community isbprovided through various channels
including city newsletters, newspapers,
and radio broadcasts.
(40 articles on Newspaper as of Jan, 2010)

59cPartners
・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Atsugi Police
Office・ Companies
・ Schools・ Section of Safe
Community
・ Media・ Section of Safe
Community
・ Division of PR・ Neighborhood
Association
・ Companies
・ Schools・ Section of Safe
Community

c. Enlightenment activities
Enlightenment activities are carried out by posters with the Atsugi’s Safe Community logo. The

posters are put up in public facilities, convenience stores, and on public transportation vehicles(busses) etc. Besides, banners and stickers are also used to improve awareness of importance ofsafety and the effort to become a Safe Community.
c

c

c

c

c

c

60

Indicator 3:
Programs that target high-risk groups and environments, andprograms that promote safety for vulnerable groups
In order to overcome the priority challenges at Atsugi City; (1)suicides, (2)traffic safety”,(3) feelingof safety and public safety, and (4)fall of elderly people, the following program have been
conducted for high risk groups and environments.

1. Suicide prevention(1) Characteristics
An examination of deaths cases from 2002 to 2006 (Table 6) reveals that suicide takes the top

cause of death between 20’s – 60’s (total of 211 people). In particular, 68% of suicides isconducted by adults at the age of 30 - 59 years old, therefore, this age group is considered as highrisk of suicide.
(2) Safety improvement programsa. Forming liaison councils in organizations concerned with suicide prevention.

b. Studying concrete measures with the Labor Standards Inspection Office and member
companies.
c. Analyzing cases including suicide attempt by strengthening collaboration network with policeand fire department.
d. Implementing “Sop Suicide” campaign to citizens, especially youth, in direct hand.
e. Supporting survivors of suicide
f. Studying measures of suicide prevention with consideration of possible increase in the suicide
rate.
Program

TargetEnvironment- Support for failedsuicides attempt- Support for survivor of
suicide- PR activities for
suicide prevention

AdultsElderlyAll

Directions【GOAL】
reduce suicides:a national challenge

61

Implementing
organizations
Violence andSuicide Prevention
Taskforce Team

2. Traffic safety(1) Characteristics
a. The rate of traffic accident by the elderly has been high (Table 18). Besides, in the age group of

10 - 19 years old, traffic accidents are more likely result in injuries or death other than causes. As
for other age groups, traffic accidents tend to take upper ranks of cause of injuries and death.
(Table 6)b. According to police statistics in 2008, among all traffic accidents, bicycle accidents take 20% of
all accidents, caused 15% of all injuries, and occurred most frequently from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
as well as 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
c. Many elderly people get injured by causing accidents by their own.
d. According to police data, cyclists who caused accidents most frequently are 15 years old or
younger, which is higher than the average for Kanagawa Prefecture. (Fig. 26)
The public opinion survey has shown that most injuries were caused by cyclists falling down on
sidewalks by him/her own. (Figs. 27 and 28)(2) Safety improvement programsa. Traffic safety measures – calisthenics and a variety of traffic safety programs (Combination of“Active Driving Lectures”, traffic safety training, and “Traffic Training games for elderly” etc.)
for the elderly.
b. Programs concentrating on youth
Shimizu Kids sound network Meeting takes important roles in effort of safety promotion based on
the International Safe School, especially in terms of traffic accident prevention.
b-1. Going home as group
To go home in safe, pupils leave for their homes together. Children at higher grades take careof lower grade children on their way home.
b-2. Eye of love
See “Eyes of Love Program” in p 54
c. Programs to reduce bicycle accidents which taking about 20% of all traffic accidents
Beside programs mentioned above, Shimizu Elementary School puts effort on prevention of
bicycle accidents
c-1. Campaign program for wearing bicycle helmet
c-2. Training for safe bicycle use
c-3. Practice of bicycle use
Experienced children at high grade teach younger children how to bike safely.

62

Program- Improving
drivingenvironments- Compliancewith rules andmanners- Increasing
helmet use
among cyclists

TargetAll agegroupsEnvironment

Directions

Bicycle traffic【GOAL】-Harmonious
coexistence ofbicycles, pedestrians,
and automobiles-Creation of bicycle
friendly streets where
people can ridebicycles safely andproperly.

Implementing
organizations- Safety Bicycle
Use TaskforceTeam- Shimizu kids
Sound Network
Meeting- Tomuro Ward
Federation of
Neighborhood
Association

3. Feeling of Safety and Public Safety /Crime Prevention(1) Characteristics
The Fact-Finding survey on suspicious activities has revealed that many elementary and middle

high-school girls have been targets of accosting, stalking, chasing, and other suspicious actions bywhich they can be victims of crimes.
By social research, to a question asking about recent improvement of the situation, “nothinghas been done to improve public safety” took 21% of all responds and “there is no change” took
62%. In this situation, the most serious anxiety is that children might be accosted or abducted,
followed by anxiety about natural disaster such as earthquakes (Fig. 22). It is, therefore,
necessary to strengthen crime prevention activities rooted in the community.

(2) Safety improvement programs
a. Regular basis survey on suspicious activities

b. Survey on Safety, Health and Community, survey on satisfaction with community and lifec. Program for commuting children; Eyes of love, Shelter points, etc.
d. Crime prevention and disaster prevention measures

Program

TargetEnvironment

Directions- Community
Safety programby vehicles
equipped withrotating blue
lights.
- Measures for
suspicious
individuals
measures- Crime prevention
measuresChildrenRoutes fromhomes toschool【GOAL】
prevent crimes
Focus on safety at city
streets so that citizens
can feel they can live
safely and free fromanxiety.

63

Implementing
organizations- Community
Safety Council
Liaison- Tomuro Wardfederation of
Neighborhood
Association- Mirai Bunka
Kawamoto
Neighborhood
Association

4. Elderly safety(1) Characteristics
The most frequent cause of injuries outside home is fall. Seen by age groups, many of thoseinjuries were caused among elderly, especially people at 75 years old or older. On the other hand,
as for cases of injured at home, people at 75 years old or older also tend to be injured by fall morethan other age groups. Injury at home is especially considered as high risk because possibility ofending up with hospitalization is 1.8 times more than injuries occurred outside homes.
(2) Safety improvement programa. Exercise instruction to improve locomotors functions

b. Fall prevention measures
ProgramPreventing fall
through exercise
and good dietary
habitsTargetElderly

Environment

Directions

Inside andoutside of home

【GOAL】-Reducing Injuries by fallamong elderly-Reduction of medical
treatment and nursing
care costs

64

Implementing
organizations
Elderly Safety
Taskforce TeamIndicator 4：
Programs that document the frequency and causes of injuries
1. Injury surveillance system
To improve safety, Atsugi make the use of data based on the following processes;(1) In collaboration with the Atsugi Medical Association, universities and other concernedorganizations, the Atsugi City Injury Surveillance Committee analyzes various injury data (SeeTable15) which was collected and sorted by staff being in charge of data collection at eachorganization.
(2) The surveillance committee provides results of data analysis to the section of Safety promotion
at Atsugi City.
(3) The section of Safety promotion at Atsugi City government makes arrangements forinterventions of safety promotion in collaboration with the surveillance committee.
The taskforce teams and pilot neighborhoods communities conduct in-depth analyze to clarify
the detailed situation, and then implement effective and efficient programs for specific safety
problems in communities.
Figure 48. Image of injury surveillance in Atsugi

Atsugi City Injury Surveillance System

PoliceData

Administrative
Data

Fire Dept.
Data

Survey on
Public Opinion

Medical
Data

Data to be collected is listed at Table 15

Data collection andanalysis by each section

Data Analysis by Surveillance Committee
Feedback

based on ICECI

Influence by
programs

Setting up priority challenges
Task Force teams

Pilot neighborhood
communities

Clarifying
detailed situation

Clarifying
detailed situation

Program 1

Program 2

Program 1

65

Program 2

2. Injury data collection system
The following sets of data are used to identify safety problems, grasp trends of our community andinfluence of interventions.

Table 15. Long-term Injury Data Collection Plan

Recording System

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Intervala. Administrative data

Conducted

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnuallyb. Ambulancetransport data

Conducted

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnuallyc. Citizen’s
consciousness
surveyd. Survey on Citizens’satisfaction

Conducted-

Collecting
Analyzing-

PlanedEvery
2 years-

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnuallye. Survey on Safety,
Health andCommunity
f. Survey on Bicycle
Use-

Conducted--

PlanedEvery
3 years-

Conducted--

PlanedEvery
3 yearsg. Survey in Pilot
neighborhood
communities(Bicycles)
h. Statistics on
Demographic
situation, healthi. Kanagawa Prefecture
Police statistics-

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnually

Conducted

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnually

Conducted

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnually-

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing

PlanedPlanedAnnually

Conducted

Conducted

Collecting
Analyzing g

PlanedPlanedAnnuallyj. Injury surveillance atChildren’s Centers
and Day-care Centersk. Data at Work Placea. Administrative data
Data including population, children, elderly, crimes, disasters, traffic and numbers of 119 calls iscollected annually through various recording systems.
b. Ambulance transport data
A system of data analysis in which ambulance transport data can be converted and analyzed

based ICECI has been constructed.
The system is expected to make good performance to analyze data based on ICECI in future.

66

c. Citizen’s consciousness survey
For randomly selected about 4,000 men and women at 18 years old and over living in Atsugi City,a survey was conducted in order to clarify what the citizens think of Atsugi City and their view of
future urban development of the city so that the city government can obtain information or citizen’s
need to be applied to policies. This survey is scheduled to be held every two years.
d. Survey on Citizen’s Satisfaction
Citizen’s satisfaction with the policies and administrative activities of Atsugi City is surveyed andanalyzed to obtain basic information to improve management of the city and to evaluate its
administrative activities. This process is scheduled every year.
e. Survey on Safety, Health and Community
This survey was carried out to grasp the trend of injuries including gender, age andsocio-ecological aspects, clarify the actual state of the occurrence of injuries and identify high risk
groups. Moreover, questions were asked to reveal elements effecting on anxiety concerning public
safety (people’s anxiety regarding harm caused by crime). The results are used to develop new
safe community measures.
Outline of the survey:
As of September 1, 2008, 7,000 household heads and their family members registered as residents of Atsugi City (1 household
questionnaire + 3 individual questionnaire were sent), and 2,044 households (4,189 individual questionnaires) were recovered,achieving an effective response rate of 29.2%.

f. Survey on Bicycle Use
The survey was carried out to clarify risks posed by bicycles and the mechanisms of bicycle

related incidents and accidents, by studying consciousness of bicycle use, rules and manners,
causes of anxiety, dangerous locations and the actual state of incidents and accidents.
Outline of the survey:
For 2,000 users of bicycle parking facilities within a radius of 4km of Hon-Atsugi Station (1,160 bicycle parking facility users + 840
cyclists who park bicycles at public facilities, companies, and universities). A total of 695 questionnaires returned for an effective
response rate of 34.8%

g. Survey on bicycle helmet use
This survey was conducted at all elementary schools in the city in Sept. 2009 and will be continued

annually from now on.
h. Statistics on Demographic situation, health
Data concerning death, illness and injuries is annually provided by the Ministry of Health, Laborand Welfare. The data is used to find problems in Atsugi City by comparing with data for the entire
nation and Kanagawa Prefecture.
i. Police statistics
Data on traffic accidents, suicides, and crimes etc. are collected and analyzed by Kanagawa

Police Department and Atsugi Police Department.

67

j. Injury surveillance at Children’s Centers and Day-care Centers
At 37 Children’s Centers and Day-care Centers, all injuries are recorded and analyzed to improve

environment so that children can study and play safely.
k. Data at Work Place
Data from business in the city and the Atsugi Labor Standards Inspection Office are collected andanalyzed to identify problems to improve safety at work places.

68Indicator 5：
Evaluation measures to assess their programs, processes andthe effects of change.
In Atsugi City, the Safe Community Programs, which have been undertaken as a set ofcomprehensive project, will be repeatedly reviewed and improved based on administrativeevaluation. The series of process in assessment, clarifying effectiveness and efficiency of the
project and reflection of the result of analysis contributes to improvement of safety and citizen’s
satisfaction with community as a result.
The result of the evaluation and review will be reflected to programs and announced to thecitizens.

1. Managing the implementation of the Safe Community Programs
For effective and efficient operation of safe community project, sets of Safe Community programs
are assessed based on citizens’ satisfaction and other representative measures of evaluation.

SEE
Clarify thesituation

DO

PLAN

Administer the citywith priority on
citizens’ degree ofsatisfaction andachievements

Enact new plans byusing evaluation
results andreflecting citizens’
views

Atsugi Safe
Community
Promotion
Association

ACTION
Form new policies andreflect them in budget
creation by using andrevising evaluation
results

69

CHECK
Evaluate measures
Evaluation work andprojects

2. Evaluation of Safe Community Program
The city will collect and scientifically analyze data listed under “the Indicator 4”, which reflects
actual conditions of the communities. In cooperation with citizens, administrators, and otherrelative bodies share result of assessments to promote their initiatives intended to achieve ourcommon goals.
To identify influence of programs, two questionnaire surveys will be carried out as a public opinion
survey and the degree of achievement of goals will be examined.

(1) Goals
2008①Citizens’ satisfaction
Percentage of Citizens who feel “City has improved
to provide us healthy lives without accidents andinjuries, safety and less anxiety about public. ”②Survey on Safety, Health and Community
Awareness of Safe Community among citizens

2014

37.2%
60.0%

33.8%
80.0%

③Representative index
Number of injuries, estimated number of injuries
according to the Atsugi City Survey on Safety, Health,and Community

100,007cases

92,400cases*including duplicate data

3. Establishment of partnership
Based on strong partnership between Dr. Yoko Shiraishi, a coordinator for the Certifying Center in
Suwon, Korea, and Mr. Hiroshi Ishizuki from the Japanese Society of Safety Promotion, theevaluation system for Safe Community Program will be formed. With the effort of safety promotion
based on this system will take anxiety away from citizens and make people feel Atsugi City it asafe community to live with no anxiety about safety and security.

704. Achievements/improvements by SC programs(1) Violence and Suicide Prevention
a. Construction of a network by establishing the Suicide Prevention Measures Internal Liaison Councilb. Conducting the Suicide Prevention Street Campaign
c. Displaying suicide prevention related materials in libraries
d. Having workshops for suicide prevention
a

c

b

d

a
(2) Traffic Safety
a. Reduction of traffic accident by improvement oftraffic lights
Table 16 Number of accidents at Taya intersection

Taya
Intersection

2006

2007

2008

Total

19

18

1

38

b

b. Highlighting the sigh of STOP on roads.
The sight of STOP is emphasized to make drivers
aware of coming intersection.
a(3) Reduction of anxiety about public safety
a. Installation of crime prevention lights and increase
its illumination intensity (20 → 32W)

32Ｗ
20Ｗ

FY 2007 (as of March 31, 2008)

Installation 15,383 lights
increase illumination 4,732b

FY 2008 (as of December 31,2009)

Installation 16,526 lights
increase illumination 7,452
b. Increasing number of vehicles equipped withrotating blue lights for crime prevention
FY 2007 (as of March 31, 2008)

4 registered at end of March 2007
FY 2008 (as of December 31,2009)41 registered in December 200971b

(4) Elderly Safety
Eliminating difference in level on the sidewalk androads
横傾斜角度１％

横傾斜角度8％(5) Children’s Safety
a. International Safe School Projecta-1. decrease of injury
5,636 cases (2008)
4,734 cases(2009)

a-1

a-2

a-3

a-4

a-2. increase the rate of bicycle helmets wearing(students who wear helmet / student who have bicycles)

8.8%(20008)

35.4%(2009)a-3. make today with no traffic accident
As of May 31, 2010, 380 days of no traffic accident
a-4. Improvement of environments- Improvement of a slope to the play yard.
- Installation of equipments to prevent pupils’ fallingfrom opened windows- improvement of equipment of training curse for thecompetition of bicycle skill
b. Safety at children Centers and Day-Care Centers
Implementing injuries surveillance and giving
training to children for safety promotion-Injury surveillance (2008~)-Training for danger prediction(2008~)-Improvement and expansion of lessons of traffic
rules for parents& children

a-4
a-4

b

b

c

c

c. Reducing cases of accosting of children by asuspicious individuals by using safety vests andmapping those cases
2007: 70 cases
2008: 55 cases(6) Bicycle Safety
a. Effort by the taskforce team of safe bicycle use hascome up with various approaches as below.
a-1. Improvement of environment for bicycle use
In FY 2009; 450m on Hon-Atsugi Matsue route was
improved, considering difficulty in securing enoughwidths on the roads as seen in the pattern A and B.
For example, bicycle safety driving improvement arearranged by making a detour around dangerous
intersections as indicated with ‘○’ mark and points offrequent traffic accident as indicated ‘ ’.

72a

2009年度
2010年度
2011年度
2012年度以降
タウンモール（２００８年に対策済）

a-2 Improvement of driving environment; routes orintersections where accidents occur frequently- Reducing illegal parking of bicycles
2007: 173 cases → 2008: 132 cases- Painting color on paved roads-. Installation of guardrails-. Installation of road mirrors
a-3 Bicycle accidents Prevention ( elderly &children)- When the citizens purchase children’s bicycle
helmet or tandem bicycle, Atsugi City subsidizes
part of its cost.(since 2010)- Provide education programs of traffic safety forkindergartens, elementary school, junior highschools and senior citizen’s clubs,- Children’s bicycle events- Bicycle events for three generations- Regional welfare, traffic safety and crime
prevention educations
a-4. Enlightenment activities about compliance withrules and manners of bicycle use- Improve awareness of traffic rules and strict
control over violation of traffic regulation.
- Improvement of awareness of dangerous traffic
spots- Distribution of safety map & safer driving routeadvise map made in collaboration with
communities- Improvement of cyclist’s manners, carrying out
monthly program of clear away motorcycle
gangs- Setting up a private organization for trafficmonitoring centera-5. Promotion of bicycle helmet use
b. Future perspective of safe bicycle use
With ongoing evaluation of current safety programs,
the following is initiatives are planned.
b-1. Assessments of safety measure plans andintervention of long-, mid- and short- term
programs.
b-2.Development of sustainable safety measuresfor high risk groups in terms of age groups andenvironments.
b-2 Establishment of system of evaluation,assessment and improvement73

整備パターン Ａ（車道幅員に余裕のある） 整備パターン Ｂ（車道幅員に余裕がない）

車道⇒自転車通行帯（自転車一方通行）
自転車歩行者道または歩道上自転車通行可
PatternＡ
Pattern B（自転車相互走行）
3.0m未満1.5m以上3.0m未満

a-2

a-2

a-3

a-3

a-4

a-5

a.

b.

(7) Home and Leisure safety
a. Safety at athletic events
The Atsugi City Fire Department began to deploy
emergency motorcycles to support an emergency
system at the city marathon since 2008.
b. Fire safety
In response to introducing the obligation of fire alarm
installation at homes in 2006, Atsugi City has beenpromoting alarms installation for free to the elderly
living alone in 2009.

ccc. Checking risk spots along rivers(8) Work place safety
a. The taskforce team of work place safety consists of three industrial business groups in Atsugi City;
Kanagawa Prefecture Work Safety and Hygiene Association Atsugi Branch, Atsugi Medical
Association and related national, prefectural and city administrative organizations. The team isworking on the safety promotion based on the concept, “Collaborations with Business Group”
aCompanies

Amadera Industrial Park Council（61 companies）
Amadera Safety & Health Specified GroupInter-company activities over 30 years

Kanagawa Labor Safety & Health
Association-Atsugi Branch （543 members）
Tie-up with Atsugi Labor Standards Office
Generic Level-ups of Workers’ Safety & Health

Atsugi Chamber of Commerce, Industry Section （426members）
Stimulating local economy by industrial members
Administration

Atsugi Labor Standards Office

Nairiku Industrial Park Cooperative （145 companies）
Safety and Health Committee
Improving Control Level of Safety and Health

Atsugi Medical Association
Atsugi Fire Defense Agency

Atsugi Police Station

Atsugi City Bureau concerned
Safety Coordinating, GA, Industries, Development and Finance Depts.

cTrend of Occurrence of Industrial Accidents

Injury resulting
in leave
Injury without
need of leave

Occurrence
1979

1979
2009

1989

1989

74

1999

1999

2009

b. Based on the situation of accidents and injuries at workcplaces, Atsugi Labor Standard Inspections Office and theLabor Department of Kanagawa Pref. analyze data todevelop effective and efficient measures for safety
promotion.
c. Mutual Patrol for Safety and Health・ On volunteer bases, the mutual patrol is conducted bymember companies. This patrol is conducted once for eachmember company every year.
・ At patrol, with follow up about improvements of safety sinceprevious patrol, result of patrol is reported and information
is exchanged between a company which had patrol and ateam of companies which conducted patrol.
・ Within a month, the information is also sent to Atsugi Labor
Standard Inspections Office to share information for safety
promotion. Patrols are conducted about 10 times per year
・

Amadera Safety & Health Specified Group started
voluntary mutual patrol in thirty year ago. The results of
their activities for the last thirty years show favorable
reduction of industrial accidents.

・ Taskforce team of Work Place Safety has been trying todevelop systematic measures for improvement of safety
from new points of view trough exchange information about
the mutual patrol for safety and healthd. Effects of the SC initiatives
・Atsugi Labor Standard Inspections Office and the taskforce
team of work place safety enlighten safety awareness byproviding information about industrial accident occurrence
via Atsugi City web site.
・Promotion of Safe Community program is clearly stipulated
in annual business plan of the committee member
companies.
・ Amadera Occupational Complex and Kanagawa Inland
Industrial Park are planning to promote mutual cooperationand exchange information on voluntary patrol for safety andhealth.

75dIndicator 6：
Ongoing participation in national and international Safe
Community networks.
Atsugi City has participated in national and international network of Safe Community to learn from othercommunities and share their experience and information. Referring to various programs on safety
promotion and injury prevention by SC designated communities inside and outside of Japan, the city
has been putting further effort to improve the Atsugi City Safe Community Programs.

1. Participation in national networks(1) Relationships with domestic Safe Communities in Japan
Through participation in the designation ceremony of Kameoka City, which is the first Japanese city to
be designated as Safe Community, Atsugi City has continually studied initiatives and strategies of
Kameoka City.
(2) Participation in the Japanese Society of Safety Promotion
By presenting its initiatives to the Japanese Society of Safety Promotion and to the Nihon ShiminAnzen Gakkai, Atsugi City has shared its experience and worked to form a domestic Safe Community
Network.

September, 2007: Participated in the Kyoto Safe Community Symposium
March, 2008: Attended to the Kameoka City Safe Community Designation Ceremony
Participated in the International Conference on Surveillance for Safe Community
October, 2008: Participated in and gave a presentation to the 2nd Academic Conference,
Japanese Society of Safety Promotion (Tokyo)
December,2008: Attended to the 5th Nihon Shimin Anzen Gakkai, Toda city
August, 2009: Attended to the Towada City Safe Community Designation Ceremony
Participated in and made presentations at the 3rd Academic Conference, JapaneseSociety of Safety Promotion (Towada City)
November, 2010: Attended to the 6th Nihon Shimin Anzen Gakkai, Yokohama
March, 2010:Participated in the International Safe School Designation Ceremony at Ikeda
Elementary School attached to Osaka Kyoiku (Normal) University (Ikeda City, Osaka)
November, 2010: Hosting the 4th Academic Conference of the Japanese Society of Safety
Promotion (Atsugi City)76

(3) Hosting visiting study groups
As a result of the dissemination of information about Safe Community projects at Atsugi City through its
web site and other media, the city become to accept study groups from many local governments.
Through these visits, the city has worked to popularize Safe Communities and importance of safety
promotion.

July, 2008: Oyama City in Tochigi PrefectureJan., 2009: Tsukuba City Assembly in Ibaraki Prefecture
April, 2009: Nagano Prefectural Police Department
July, 2009: Fukuyama City Assembly in Hiroshima Prefecture
Aug.,2009: Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, Tokyo
Nov., 2009: Association of Deputy Mayors of Saga Prefecture, Hose University, Kanto Gakuin
University, Minowa Town(Nagano Prefecture), Nagao Prefecture Police
Jan,2010:Toshima City(Tokyo), Komoro City(Nagano Prefecture), Council of Fukusima Prefecture,
Keio University
Feb.,2010:Council of Ebetu City, Kagosima City(Kagoshima Prefecture)

Kameoka Cityth

The 5 Conference on City Safetyrd

Towada City

The JSSP 3 Conference in Towadand

the JSSP 2 Conference in Tokyoin Todath

The 6 Conference on City Safety
in Yokohama

77

2. Participation in international networks
June, 2008: Attended the Songpa District Designation Ceremony in Seoul, Korea
Participated in international networks to study Safe Community Programs in various
countries

July, 2008: Visited the WHO Asian Region Designation Center
By studying Safe Community Programs in Korea and at the same time, exchanging
views with representatives of the designation center, the city learned from examples inmore advanced cities in Korea.

October, 2008: Participated in the 17th International Safe Community Conference (in Christchurch
City in New Zealand)Four representatives of Atsugi City attended, introducing Safe Community initiatives in
Atsugi City by displaying posters and by other means.

Feburary,2009 : Inspection tour by WHO Asia Region Safe Community Certifying Center
Officials from Korea, China, and Taiwan were invited to see initiatives in Atsugi City

March, 2009: Visited Safe Schools (Taiwan)
Visited to advanced Safe Schools in Taiwan to study their initiatives.

October, 2009: Participated in and gave a presentation to the 5th Asia Region Safe Community
Conference, (Beijing in China)
Four representatives of Atsugi City attended, and introduce Safe Community initiatives
in Atsugi City by giving presentations, displaying posters and by other means.

November,2009: Participated in the 6the International Injury Prevention Forum (Seoul, Korea)
Visited to Jungja Elementary School(Suwon), the first International Safe School in
Korea
March, 2010: Scheduled to participate in and give a presentation at the 19th International Safe
Community Conference (Suwon City in Korea)
Two representatives of Atsugi city will attend and introduce Safe Community initiatives ofAtsugi City.

78

Visit to Songpa District in Seoulth

Visit to the Certifying Center in Korea

17 International Conference on
Safe Community

Invitation of SC specialists

visit to Neifu District in Taipei(Taiwan)th

The 5 Asia region Conference on Safe CommunitythVisit to the International Safe School

Attend to the 6 International Injury Prevention Forum

79

Chapter 6
Prospects for sustainable Atsugi Safe
Community
1. Goals of Safe Community(1) Long-term goals- To improve the quality of life (QOL) of citizens through Safe Community programs.
- To create a community where citizens can live safely and free from anxiety.
- To re-establish bond among community members.

(2) Long-term initiatives- To reach the goal of “be the most secure and safest city in the world” by taking initiatives which
conform to the Safe Community Program enacted in the Atsugi City Comprehensive Plan
①Safe Community Program in the Atsugi City Comprehensive Plan

Atsugi:Lively and Richly Creative City in Cooperative Relationship with the World[Basic Concept] 12 years[ City Improvement Goal]
A city where people support eachother to live in safe and health

Guideline

Priority Strategies
Strategies for development of
the Community[Basic Plan] 6 years
Basic policy: policies on safety
A city where people support each otherto live in safe and health○Basic Measure: Safe Community promotion○Individual measures: Safe Community Initiatives

Measures[Execution Plan] 3 years
Execution plan project: Safe Community Promotion project
Priority Goals: “ To become a city with life time safety andhealth80

Projects

②Elements and Periods of the Safe Community Program Plan

The Safe Community Programs will be implemented based on periods for policy execution withflexibly responding to changes and trends in the society.
2009

2014

2015

2020

Basic Plan (12 years)

Second period basic plan (6 years)

First period basic plan (6 years)
Phase 1 execution

Phase 2 execution

Phase 3 execution

Phase 4 execution

plan (3 years)

Plan (3 years)

Plan (3 years)

Plan (3 years)

2. Program implementation strategy
2008

2009

2010

2015

Preparation

Execution

Completion

Expansion/continuation

・Assigning an SC manager and forming an expert committee
・Establishing the SC organization at City Hall
(Exploratory Committee, Task Force)・Establishing the SC Steering Committee
・Conducting Public Opinion Survey
・Establishing Countermeasure Committees
・Establishing Pilot neighborhood communities
・Studying injuries prevention programs
・Establishing the Injuries Surveillance Committee

・SC designation
・ Establishment of national SC Community
Network・Establishment of national SC network-SC re-designation-Expanding and continuing
injuries prevention andsafety promotion-Continuously collecting
and analyzing injury data
-Activities to expand SC
inside and outside of Japan・Promotion of awareness about SC activities

・Participation to domestic and international SC networks
・Executing the injuries prevention Programs by the Taskforce
teams and pilot neighborhood communities
・ Operation of Safe Community programs based on the Injuries
Surveillance System81

3. Future perspective of SC movement at Atsugi City
1. Re-designation as a member of International Safe Community

2. Establishment of Safe Community Network nationally and internationallya. Forming Safe Community Network in Japanb. Participating and contributing to the International Safe Community Networkc. Supporting communities working to be members of the International Network of Safe Communityd. Providing opportunities to develop Safe Community movements through events such as
symposiums.

3. Diffusion of concept and activities of Safe Communitya. Promoting SC programs based on the Atsugi Comprehensive Plan
b. Improving social governance approach(Collaborative management of communities by various actors in community)c. Implementing sustainable and long-term programsd. Developing programs which record causes and frequency of injuries and accidents
e. Developing system to asses and evaluate processes and result of Safe Community programs
f. Promoting sustainable Safe Community project〔Contact〕
Section of Safe Community, Division of City Safety,
Department of Collaborative Safety, Atsugi City
tel:046(225)2865 fax:046(221)0260
e-mail:3450sc@city.atsugi.kanagawa.jp

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