Kirk here. This article says that eighteen foreign technical intern trainees from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal took part in a relief effort for people affected by the Kumamoto earthquake, delivering water, daily necessities, and other supplies to three locations.
The trainees are currently studying at Kyushu International Academy (九州国際学院), a Fukuoka training school that provides Japanese-language and orientation courses for newly arrived foreign technical intern trainees. Some had only recently arrived in Japan and experienced the earthquake soon after coming here. According to RPJ Co., Ltd. (株式会社RPJ; I don't know what RPJ stands for), which operates the academy, the trainees themselves wanted to find a way to help people affected by the disaster, including people from their own countries already living and working in Kumamoto.
This article on the Nishinippon Shimbun website is based on a press release from RPJ.
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Foreign Technical Intern Trainees from Kyushu International Academy Provide Relief Supplies Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
Support Delivered Across Nationalities — Trainees Act on Their Desire to “Do Something to Help”
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to everyone affected by the earthquake and sincerely hope that normal, peaceful daily life can return as soon as possible.
At Kyushu International Academy, operated by RPJ Co., Ltd. in Fukuoka City, foreign technical intern trainees currently undergoing training took the initiative in providing relief supplies to areas affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.
The supplies were delivered to three locations with which arrangements had been made in advance, including companies where graduates of Kyushu International Academy are working and facilities serving as distribution points for relief supplies. A total of 18 people participated, representing students at the academy, including technical intern trainees from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal.
They delivered water, daily necessities, and other supplies needed locally out of a desire to help people affected by the disaster and others living in the area.
The trainees actively helped unload and carry the supplies, carefully transporting the relief items one by one.
The academy plans to continue doing what it can while monitoring conditions in the affected areas and determining what kinds of assistance are needed.
Some of the technical intern trainees who participated had experienced the earthquake shortly after arriving in Japan.
They said that they had been frightened and anxious after experiencing such strong shaking just as they were beginning life in an unfamiliar country. Even so, they began thinking, “Is there anything we can do for the people affected by the disaster?” That led to this relief effort.
There are also people from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Nepal who came to Japan before them and are now living and working in Kumamoto Prefecture.
“If people from our own countries who came to Japan before us are having difficulties, we want to help them, even if only a little.”
That feeling was another motivation for the relief effort.
A Vietnamese technical intern trainee said:
“There was an earthquake soon after I came to Japan, and I was very scared. I was still not used to life in Japan, but I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for people who were in trouble, so I took part in this relief effort.”
An Indonesian technical intern trainee said:
“There are people from my country in Kumamoto who came to Japan before me and are working hard here. I wanted to do something, even if only a little, to help them and other people in the community who are having difficulties. I’m glad I was able to take part in delivering supplies.”
Mizuki Noguchi, a director of RPJ Co., Ltd., commented:
“This relief effort was not something that RPJ initiated. The technical intern trainees themselves thought about whether there was anything they could do for people affected by the disaster and took action on their own.
“Crimes involving foreigners sometimes receive a great deal of attention. But we also hope that more people will become aware that there are foreigners in Japan who are studying and working hard and who want to take action to help people in need and the communities where they live.”
Kei Egashira, also a director of RPJ Co., Ltd., commented:
“We provided support with things that would have been difficult for the trainees to handle by themselves, such as preparing and transporting the supplies and coordinating with the organizations receiving them.
“We are very pleased and encouraged that the trainees thought for themselves and acted to help others across national boundaries. We intend to continue supporting necessary activities while respecting their desire to help.”
Kyushu International Academy has spent more than ten years working on educational issues related to support and post-entry training for foreign nationals, developing its own curriculum covering Japanese-language education, daily-life guidance, workplace manners, and cultural understanding.
In addition to teaching Japanese and the knowledge needed for work, the academy considers it important to foster connections with local communities and a willingness to think about and help people who are experiencing difficulties.
The relief effort provided the technical intern trainees with a valuable opportunity to learn the importance of helping one another.
RPJ and Kyushu International Academy say they will continue providing whatever support they can while remaining attentive to conditions in the affected communities.
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