natCo., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: 劉 栄駿; hereinafter “ nat”) announces that it will serve as a special sponsor for the “54th National Fire and Rescue Skills Competition,” to be held in Niigata City on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
This competition, organized by the National Fire Association (a public interest incorporated foundation) and supported by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the National Association of Fire Chiefs, is Japan’s premier firefighting and rescue skills competition.The 54th edition marks a historic milestone as the first time the competition—which has a history spanning more than half a century—has been held on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu. With approximately 22,000 attendees expected from across the country, including participating firefighters, event staff, and members of the public, the event is set to attract significant attention as a platform for disseminating information on firefighting and disaster prevention, as well as for corporate promotion.
Background and Purpose of the Sponsorship
nathas developed and provides the iOS app “Scanat "Scannat."Scanat While adoption has primarily focused on the construction, real estate, and manufacturing industries to date, in recent years, adoption in the firefighting and disaster prevention sectors has been steadily increasing, driven by the need for rapid spatial documentation, structural assessment, and digital asset creation at disaster sites.
Through our special sponsorship of this event, we aim to deepen our dialogue with firefighters and disaster prevention experts involved in cutting-edge rescue technologies, andScanat explore how we can contribute to disaster prevention, mitigation, and rescue operations on the ground. We also plan to utilize opportunities for demonstration exhibits at disaster prevention events toScanat we plan to offer opportunities for visitors to experience our 3D spatial recording technology firsthand at these events.
Tournament Overview
| Event Name | The 54th National Firefighting and Rescue Skills Competition | |
| Date of Event | Saturday, August 22, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Cancelled in case of inclement weather) | |
| Venue (Track and Field Events) | Toriyano-gata Southwest Temporary Parking Lot (257-7 Kaneki, Chuo Ward, Niigata City) | |
| Venue (Water Events) | Nishikaigan Park Municipal Swimming Pool (1-93 Sekiya, Chuo Ward, Niigata City) | |
| Venue for Concurrent Events | Fire Department Festival 119 | Niigata City Fire Department (257-1 Kaneki, Chuo Ward, Niigata City) |
| Community Participation Event | Niigata City Industrial Promotion Center (185-10 Kanagi, Chuo Ward, Niigata City) | |
| Organizer | National Fire Protection Association (General Incorporated Foundation) | |
| Director | Niigata City Fire Department | |
| Sponsored by | Fire and Disaster Management Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; National Association of Fire Chiefs | |
| Collaboration | National Association for the Promotion of Municipalities (General Incorporated Foundation) | |
Comment from 劉 栄駿, President and CEO ( Bruce Liu)
"Fire cause investigations are a critical task that serves as the basis for fire prevention. However, fire departments nationwide face a common challenge: investigative expertise relies heavily on the experience of veteran firefighters, and this knowledge is effectively lost every time personnel are reassigned.Scanat Actual fire investigation sites have demonstrated that by utilizing this technology, on-site surveying and photography—which traditionally required two people and three hours—can now be completed by a single person in approximately 25 minutes, while the time required to create drawings is also significantly reduced. By recording and storing the scene as 3D digital data, we can transform the insights of veterans from ‘individual experience’ into ‘organizational knowledge.’ We aim to bring this system to the front lines of fire administration.We are deeply honored to serve as a special sponsor for this landmark event, the first of its kind to be held on the Sea of Japan coast of Honshu. Through this event, which is expected to attract approximately 22,000 attendees, we look forward to actively engaging with fire and rescue experts working on the front lines, andScanat and evolve our technology into a social safety infrastructure.”
