On 19 September 2026, Naoko Ken, the Kashima Ambassador and singer, served as the one‑day Traffic Department Head for the Ibaraki Prefectural Police.
The appointment ceremony took place at Aeon Mall Tsukuba in the Inoka district of Tsukuba City. Approximately 250 visitors attended the event, where Ken appeared in police uniform and received a warm welcome from the crowd.
During the ceremony, Ken introduced the “Seat Belt Health Exercise,” a program developed with the supervision of Ibaraki Prefectural Medical University to promote the habit of wearing seat belts. She and the attendees performed the exercise, which includes movements for the shoulders and hands.
Ken urged participants to be vigilant about forgetting to fasten seat belts and about the proper use of accelerator and brake pedals. She emphasized that safe driving practices are essential for preventing accidents.
Traffic Department Director Masaji Kikuchi highlighted that, in the current year, half of the elderly passengers who died in traffic fatalities were not wearing seat belts. He stressed the importance of seat belt use in reducing the risk of death in vehicle collisions.
Article source: ibarakinews.jp | Image credit: ibarakinews.jp