One thing to take care of after a disaster: the Risai Shomei-sho (Disaster Damage Certificate), explained
If you've been affected by the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, here's how to apply for a Disaster Damage Certificate, plus volunteer support.
What it is and how to get it (volunteer support available)
Regarding the earthquake centred in Kumamoto Prefecture that occurred in July 2026, if you live in an affected area, obtaining a Disaster Damage Certificate (or 罹災証明書 Risai Shomei-sho) is important for receiving various forms of disaster relief support (such as relief payments and tax reductions). Below, we summarise how to apply for the Certificate. You can also apply online through Mynaportal using your My Number Card, although availability varies by municipality, so please check the Digital Agency's page for details: https://www.digital.go.jp/en/news/f83a8d24-4c79-4c47-b768-6a2435c3d350.
Small Business Japan, and its operator Posse Nippon, are offering volunteer support to help fill out the application form needed to apply for the Certificate, for those affected this time. If you do not have a native Japanese speaker in your family, please apply using the form below. The information you submit through this form will be used only to support your Disaster Damage Certificate application, and for no other purpose. Please note that we can also assist in languages other than English; however, until a volunteer translator is found, translation will be handled using generative AI.
Purpose: What support it can unlock
The purpose is to provide the "basis for judgement" that disaster victims need in order to receive public support and private relief measures. It is a document through which the mayor of a municipality officially certifies the degree of damage a home has sustained due to a disaster. On this basis, decisions are made as to whether, and to what extent, a victim can receive disaster recovery support payments, condolence money, loans such as disaster relief loans, reductions in taxes and insurance premiums, and the provision of emergency temporary housing.
Contents: The six damage categories
The certificate records the degree of damage to the home in one of the following six categories, based on the damage ratio.
| Degree of Damage | Damage Ratio |
|---|---|
| Total Destruction | 50% or more |
| Large-Scale Half Destruction | 40% or more, less than 50% |
| Medium-Scale Half Destruction | 30% or more, less than 40% |
| Half Destruction | 20% or more, less than 30% |
| Quasi Half Destruction | 10% or more, less than 20% |
| Partial Damage | Less than 10% |
How to Apply
Submit an application form and identification documents to the counter of the municipality where the damaged home is located (usually the disaster management, tax, or crisis management division; the fire department in the case of fire damage). Having photographic records of the damage will help the process go smoothly.
A municipal inspector visits the home to conduct a damage survey (the first survey).
Based on the survey results, a damage grade is determined and the certificate is issued.
Points to Note: Check your municipality's deadline and take photos before you clean up or repair
Many municipalities set an application deadline. Because deadlines and required documents vary by municipality, always check the announcement from the relevant municipality.
Take photographs before cleaning up or making repairs. If you clean or repair the damage first, the traces of the damage will disappear, making it impossible for the inspector to accurately determine the damage category, which may reduce the support you are eligible to receive. It is recommended that you photograph and save images of the exterior of the building, close-up shots of the damaged areas, and, in the case of flooding, photographs showing the depth of the water, before making any repairs.
