Japan is known for many things. Including earthquakes, which is not exactly a selling point. Given its location, Japan is plagued by frequent tremors, from mild to severe.
The recent earthquake in Kyushu last Friday has renewed a stark reminder: a mega-quake could hit at any moment, whether tomorrow or 30 years from now. When that day comes, clear communication will be crucial. But there’s a risk that some might be left behind: foreigners who depend on Japan’s English-language earthquake updates.
Navigating the chaos
The days after Friday, August 8, were filled with widespread alarm in Japan. But for some foreigners, deep confusion set in. A 7.1 earthquake had just hit Kyushu, and the heightened risk of a mega-quake left many feeling lost— some didn’t even catch the warning.
With 3.13 million foreign tourists in June and over 3 million foreign residents nationwide, the need to provide them with effective information is critical. Although the government has made efforts at both national and local levels, the reality seems to tell a different story.
“There’s hardly any information, and we don’t even know what to watch out for,” said 33-year-old Australian Adriana Duran, who was visiting Tokyo when the earthquake hit southern Japan. Worried about the mega-quake risk, she downloaded the government’s ‘Safety Tips’ app. Yet, it didn’t issue any major earthquake alerts in English at the time.
Prefectures have been doing their part too. On the 8th, Miyazaki City opened a multilingual disaster call center in 21 languages and provided updates through its website and LINE. Yet, no inquiries came through in the aftermath. This is likely because many foreign tourists aren’t even aware this service exists—making official channels less effective.
Alongside digital information, there’s a pressing need for clear, up-to-date English signs on the streets. Yomiuri Shimbun said that days after the Kyushu tremors, Shizuoka beaches either featured worn-out signs or lacked information entirely about tsunami evacuation centers. When asked what to do in a tsunami, most passers-by couldn’t even answer.
The result is a mixed picture: some measures show strong preparedness, while others expose glaring gaps. It seems that Japan still has some work to do on mega-earthquake preparedness—at least for its foreign population.
After the storm
But what’s really going on in Japan right now? It didn’t all start with last week’s quake.
The 16:43 shake that hit the coast of Hyuga-nada in Miyazaki Prefecture brought a long-held fear to the forefront. In the wake of the tremor, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Nankai Trough Earthquake Emergency Information page for the first time. This refers to a major earthquake stemming from the plate boundary off Japan’s Pacific coast, stretching from Shizuoka to Miyazaki.
The possibility of such an earthquake has been on the radar for years. Research shows these quakes typically strike every 100 to 150 years, with the last one hitting nearly 80 years ago (the Showa Tonankai Earthquake, magnitude 7.9, in 1944). While not imminent, this was the status quo—until last week, when the risk jumped from 1 in 1,000 to about 1 in several hundred.
Low risk, severe danger
This doesn’t guarantee an earthquake is imminent—the risk is still relatively low. And as of this writing, the Japan Meteorological Agency’s has officially ended the alarm. However, this first-ever alarm has sparked fresh anxiety and a renewed push for preparedness. As a result, prefectures have been ramping up their efforts to get ready.
In Uwajima City’s Oura district, where tsunamis could exceed six meters and cause severe flooding, local volunteers are gathering at high-ground evacuation sites. In Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, residents are inspecting and clearing evacuation areas in preparation for a possible tsunami. Despite the Obon holidays approaching, Shizuoka Prefecture canceled events and ceremonies one by one.
Amid the rush of preparations, some are focusing on the foreign population too. The Hamamatsu International Exchange Association held a disaster prevention meeting for foreigners on the night of the 10th. Yet, with only 20 attendees out of the city’s 29,000 foreign residents, it’s evident that more effort from local and central governments is needed to reach everyone.
Learning from yesterday
Japan still has some work to do to keep its foreign residents informed during disasters. So what are the key issues with earthquakes? Past experiences offer some insight.
The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake is a clear example. When the quake struck, Noto was home to many technical interns from across Southeast Asia. Most hadn’t been there long and were only partially integrated into the community. The aftermath was chaotic: some didn’t know they could get supplies at evacuation centers, and others didn’t even know the centers existed.
“The disaster also impacted the employers of these technical interns. The companies did their best, urging them to evacuate to higher ground during the tsunami warning and providing water. The government has created multilingual websites to share information, but not everyone can access them. Many people just weren’t getting the information,” shared Yuki Sakurai from the refugee-supporting NPO AAR Japan.
Similar issues surfaced during the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. Many people were unsure what was happening or how to react, so large groups of foreign tourists and residents crowded the station. This mix of fear and uncertainty can lead to secondary disasters, like stampedes from overcrowding or losing track of people in the chaos.
The basic know-how
Some improvement efforts are impressive. Take Shinagawa Ward, which recently introduced a drone with a speaker that can guide evacuees in 21 languages.
Yet, according to Professor Taro Tamura from the Diversity Research Institute, the issues with preparedness run deeper. It’s not just about the amount of information—it’s the kind that counts. Most of it is ‘flow information,’ not ‘stock information’—the basic knowledge and experience built up over time. What’s missing are the essentials on how to navigate major disasters.
While most Japanese people grow up familiar with earthquakes, many foreigners have never experienced one before coming to Japan. Without that ‘stock information,’ they struggle to make sense of the rest.
Stock information covers everything from warning that a major tsunami could follow a strong quake to educating people about evacuation centers and their purpose. Professor Tamura notes that signs like ‘be careful of aftershocks’ aren’t enough if you don’t know what to watch for. Stock information would tell you that things might fall after a quake, so it’s crucial to protect your head.
These things might seem obvious to those who’ve been through it before. However, for first-timers, it’s a different story. And fear only amplifies the confusion in those moments.
Tokyo University student Wang Yupeng told NHK how, without stock information, panic set in—leaving him so frozen with fear that he didn’t even think to take shelter.
“It’s a memory I’ll never forget. It was the first time I’d ever felt such a powerful tremor. I was stunned—my mind went blank, and I was gripped by intense fear.”
While such experiences can be a wake-up call to become more self-reliant, a mega-quake brings much higher stakes. That’s why, alongside individual preparedness, the government needs to prioritize quality over quantity in disaster communication.
Prep and connect
When disaster strikes, preparation is everything. Clear communication of the essentials helps people protect themselves. This, combined with self-awareness and education, can make all the difference between chaos and safety.
Solidarity is another key factor. Professor Tamura notes how crucial it is for locals and foreigners to stay connected during disasters. He recalls how, after the Noto Peninsula quake, locals put up English signs warning about a collapsed bridge. This simple gesture likely made a huge difference for visitors.
“I believe a local person wrote those signs. While prior preparation is key, it’s equally important to recognize the presence of foreigners and think, ‘That person might need help—let’s translate this information for them.’ Regular communication with foreigners in the community is crucial,” he concludes.
Recent events remind us to up our game in disaster preparedness. When the next one hits, everyone needs to be ready—whether it’s through government resources, local support, or personal research. Think of it like backing up important files on a memory card: the more you stock up now, the better off you’ll be when you need it most.
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Sources
巨大地震注意の発表に訪日外国人ら戸惑い「情報が少なく、何に注意したらいいかわからない」 Yahoo News Japan
南海トラフ地震臨時情報受け 備蓄の確認など各地で備え進む NHK
「この標識知ってる？」「I don’t know」…訪日外国人への避難情報は足りてる？ 宮崎を取材 Abema Times
外国人の避難の課題 『ストック情報がない』想像して ～能登半島地震の警鐘～ NHK
南海トラフ地震臨時情報 浜松市で外国人防災リーダー会議 NHK
巨大地震リスクが相対的に高まった「南海トラフ地震臨時情報（巨大地震注意）」が発表される 沖縄県内各地の想定は 冷静に行動を Yahoo News Japan
