Heavy rains, typhoons, earthquakes. The Japanese archipelago was hit by a series of large-scale disasters in 2018.

Typhoon No. 21 made landfall in Japan with "very strong" force for the first time in 25 years. It brought record-breaking storm surges and strong winds, mainly to the Kinki region, and caused power outages to approximately 225 households in eight prefectures, mainly Osaka Prefecture.

At Zensho Group stores, up to 132 stores in Osaka Prefecture temporarily suspended operations due to power outages and evacuations, and factories also temporarily ceased operations due to power outages. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our business partners and employees, we were able to almost fully recover within about seven days of the disaster and function as a vital part of the local infrastructure.

Then, in the early hours of September 6, 2018, just two days after Typhoon 21 had formed, an earthquake struck with its epicenter in the central-eastern part of the Iburi region of Hokkaido. This was the first major earthquake in Hokkaido to register a seismic intensity of 7.
In the mountainous areas of Atsuma Town, close to the epicenter, a large-scale landslide occurred over a wide area, engulfing numerous homes and causing extensive damage, including the collapse of many houses in surrounding areas.

Due to the earthquake, all thermal power plants in Hokkaido were shut down, resulting in a power outage affecting approximately 2.95 million households throughout the prefecture. As a result, about 100 of the 150 Zensho Group stores in Hokkaido suspended operations. However, some stores continued to operate by providing customers with products that did not require electricity, after confirming the safety of the food. As of the following morning, the 7th, approximately 90 stores had reopened following the restoration of power supply. By the 15th, all stores had resumed operations.

On the 12th, a Sukiya kitchen car arrived from Tokyo and served over 500 Gyudon meals per day and miso soup for three days in the heavily damaged town of Atsuma.

In response to these disasters, Zensho Group conducted fundraising activities for customers and employees at its stores, headquarters, factories, and facilities from September 19 to October 31.

The total amount of donations received from customers, employees, and Zensho Labor Union is 12,101,240 yen. Yoshiro Kunii, Managing Director of Zensho Holdings, visited Osaka Prefecture Vice Governor Hiroyuki Takeuchi and Hokkaido Governor Harumi Takahashi, and donated 4,235,434 yen to Osaka Prefecture and 7,865,806 yen to Hokkaido.

"Receiving this kind of support is a great encouragement to the disaster-stricken area. We will use it carefully," they said, expressing their gratitude.

In the event of such a disaster, Zensho Group will contribute to the affected areas as a "food infrastructure" and help them recover as quickly as possible.