Simulation of Bosai Duck Game

Bosai Duck game mainly aims to train young children on how to respond to a threat. Bosai (in Japanese) means disaster prevention, and Duck (in English) refers to the pose associated with ‘duck’, the animal. The ‘duck’ pose, to drop, cover and hold, is a recommended first-act response if an earthquake occurs. Bosai Duck was created by T. Kikkawa and K. Yamori in 2005, which mainly targeted pre-school children in Japan.

This game uses cards which contain illustrations on both sides; one side illustrates the threat, and the other side illustrates the appropriate response to the threat. After learning about each threat and practicing the appropriate responses, the game starts. The players start the game by singing any songs while dancing or marching. In the middle of the singing, facilitator will show one of the threat cards randomly. The players should yell the correct keyword while posing in response to the shown card. After posing, the facilitator may tell the correct appropriate response by showing the response card on the other side.

We simulated this game during our sharing session in February 2011, to let the volunteers know about interesting and practical methods to teach very young children. Bosai Duck game has been played in many parts of Japan, around Merapi volcano in Yogyakarta, and it has been adapted to several other forms of disaster education tools. (ich)