A casual way to learn about disaster preparedness
While providing support to areas affected by an earthquake in May 2023, we were reminded of the absolute importance of disaster preparedness. Yet opportunities to learn about disaster readiness are limited – especially for children, who might find the subject complicated or frightening. This is why we created “SOMPO de Manaboccia.”
What is Manaboccia?
There is a Paralympic sport called boccia, which anyone can enjoy, regardless of age, gender, or physical ability. Manaboccia builds on the format of boccia, reimagining it as an educational game for disaster preparedness. Players throw balls onto a mat illustrated with essential emergency supplies, scoring points based on where the balls land. The game helps raise awareness as a fun experience, while participants also get to learn how to use each of the featured items, making it an effective and engaging educational tool.
The name Manaboccia is a portmanteau of the Japanese words for “learn” (manabu) and “disaster preparedness” (bosai), with a playful nod to boccia.
Putting smiles on faces through the power of play
The Noto Peninsula Earthquake of January 2024 caused severe damage across Ishikawa Prefecture. Today, affected communities continue to make steady progress toward recovery. While Sompo Japan was of course committed to swiftly handling insurance claims and providing recovery assistance, we asked ourselves what more we could do. That’s when we learned of a sports-themed event in Noto, co-hosted by Nanao City and the regional television broadcaster. It felt like the perfect place to debut Manaboccia, which was developed earlier in partnership with an NPO, and we immediately signed up to participate.
Bringing together generations through an educational game
The Nanao event attracted a wide range of participants, from families with young children to the elderly. We made adjustments like varying the throwing distances and asking employees to join in as opponents to ensure everyone could have fun.
Many of the participants had experienced evacuation firsthand during the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. We were grateful for the chance to provide this learning opportunity and create enjoyable moments for people to connect with family, friends, and the community.
The rollout of Manaboccia was a great success, and the initiative went on to win the “Culture-building” Category Grand Prize at the SOMPO Awards 2024, an internal group-wide awards program.
A small step toward a safer future
We’re thrilled to have been able to use the power of sport to bring smiles to the people of Noto and share our hopes for recovery with the region. We’re already receiving inquiries from other municipalities interested in bringing Manaboccia to their communities, and we look forward to expanding the game’s reach.
While disasters may not always be preventable, we can reduce their impact through careful preparation. We hope Manaboccia will spark greater awareness of disaster preparedness and help revitalize communities, becoming a small but important first step in building a safer future. At Sompo Japan, we’re committed to strengthening community-based efforts and regional resilience to disasters.
