Evaluating an Augmented Reality Educational Application for Earthquake Preparedness Among International Visitors and Newly Arrived Foreign Residents in Japan

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world. The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake alone caused nearly 20,000 deaths and missing persons. International visitors and newly arrived foreign residents in Japan may face heightened risk during earthquakes, as limited prior experience with earthquakes and limited Japanese-language proficiency can restrict access to essential safety information. In addition, because disaster-preparedness education is often insufficient in countries with low disaster risk, they may be especially vulnerable in emergencies. This study designed, developed, and evaluated an augmented reality (AR) application intended to provide earthquake-preparedness and survival guidance in the Japanese context. The application was evaluated using a pre-test/post-test design with 40 participants from 10 countries, who completed a 14-item multiple-choice disaster-preparedness knowledge test and a user satisfaction survey. Participants’ knowledge scores improved significantly from the pre-test to the post-test (t(39) = 8.20, p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.30), and participants reported high satisfaction (4.55/5, SD = 0.61). These results suggest the potential of AR as an accessible educational approach for enhancing earthquake-preparedness knowledge among international visitors and newly arrived foreign residents in earthquake-prone regions.