At 5:30 p.m. one August evening, straight off his construction engineering shift, Huynh Huu Qui headed directly to the duty station in Toyama’s Yamamuro district. Joining three Japanese colleagues, he boarded a patrol vehicle to cruise residential streets, monitor potential fire hazards, and remind locals about safety protocols, a routine he carries out twice a month.

“Even with frequent overtime, I always prioritize patrol shifts to do my part in keeping our neighborhood safe,” the 38-year-old engineer from Vietnam’s central province of Quang Ngai says.

After moving to Japan in 2012, he witnessed firsthand the devastation inflicted on the city by natural disasters.

He formed a mutual-aid volunteer group of Vietnamese expatriates to help emergency crews clear debris and restore homes.

In 2023, his family bought a home and settled permanently in Yamamuro. Although he noticed a dwindling local defense presence, he hesitated to apply because the registration rules were unclear to him. Instead, he engaged in community cleanup campaigns and neighborhood sanitation efforts.

Early this year, a neighbor walked him through the official guidelines and encouraged him to join.

Once the Toyama City Fire Department granted his request, he officially signed up. His wife, Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, was initially apprehensive about the inherent hazards of emergency response.

“Watching my husband’s dedication to giving back to our local community won me over,” she says.

In April 2026, Qui became the sole foreigner in the squad of 21 volunteers in Yamamuro District. Throughout Japan, neighborhood volunteer fire brigades operate alongside professional emergency services.

Under Japanese law, foreign nationals cannot operate high-pressure hoses or drive fire engines at emergency scenes, and their work is restricted to directing evacuations and providing relief logistics during disasters.

Shortly after joining, Qui was selected to represent his unit in a citywide firefighting skills tournament. Because emergency operations demand split-second coordination and rapid execution, he initially found himself fumbling during equipment-handling drills.

For a month straight, he woke up at 4:30 a.m. for rigorous training sessions, returned home by 6:20 a.m., and immediately geared up for a demanding workday that ran until 7:00 p.m.

“It is a bit bittersweet that regulations keep me off the front lines, but I am proud to provide backline support,” he says, adding that he stands ready to mobilize whenever municipal crews need backup.

Huynh Huu Qui (holding the nozzle) during a firefighting drill with members of the Toyama City Volunteer Fire Corps in Yamamuro District in May 2025. Photo courtesy of Qui

Kanayama Yasushi, captain of the Yamamuro volunteer fire squad, tells Read that Qui integrated effortlessly into the crew, demonstrated tireless commitment, and made a visible impression on other foreign residents.

“Qui not only strengthens neighborhood safety across Yamamuro, but he also serves as a pillar of reassurance for other foreigners making a life here.”

He says Qui’s appointment comes at a crucial moment for a community grappling with severe labor shortages. On August 4, Toyama broadcaster BBT, citing municipal fire department data, reported that the city’s volunteer force numbered only 8,139, a drop of more than 1,300 over the past decade, after fulfilling just 80% of its recruitment quota.

Over half of its active members are over 50 years old.

“Welcoming foreign nationals bridges critical manpower deficits while forging deeper intercultural bonds,” the BBT Toyama broadcast stated.

Huynh Huu Qui (right) pictured with Yamamuro Volunteer Fire Captain Kanayama Yasushi. Photo courtesy of Qui

Following his coverage in the Japanese media, Qui received an outpouring of congratulations from coworkers, neighbors, and relatives back in Vietnam. His journey has also inspired his fellow Vietnamese across Japan to reach out and inquire about joining their local volunteer squads.

Beyond his patrol and rescue duties, Qui plans to partner with Japanese neighbors to launch free Japanese language tutoring for newly arrived compatriots.

Looking ahead, he hopes to establish Vietnamese classes for second-generation immigrant children in Toyama, helping them stay connected with their cultural roots.

“Wherever I live, I want to pour my heart into serving my adopted community and honor the country I come from.”