This article is written by a Japanese local.
Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and the objective fact is that the probability of experiencing strong tremors during your stay is extremely high. For foreigners who have never experienced an earthquake, the sudden violent shaking and blaring emergency alarms can trigger severe panic, leading to fatal accidents caused by incorrect actions.
To prevent being isolated by the language barrier during a disaster and to protect your life, building your defense infrastructure during normal times is indispensable. This article explains the correct initial response when an earthquake strikes, the mechanics of Japan’s evacuation shelter system, and the practical procedure of installing multilingual disaster prevention apps to break through the information wall.
1. Initial Response When an Earthquake Strikes (Indoor Defense Tactics)
[Summary] When you feel tremors, never rush outside. The absolute objective rule is to hide under a sturdy desk, protect your head, and wait until the shaking stops.
The most fatal error foreigners tend to make is panicking and “rushing outside.” Japanese buildings are designed with world-class seismic standards, so the risk of the building itself instantly collapsing is kept remarkably low.
Rushing outside dramatically increases the risk of severe injury from falling glass shards or signboards. If you feel shaking, thoroughly execute the practical procedure of “Drop, Cover, and Hold on”: lower your posture, hide under a sturdy desk to protect your head, and grip the desk legs firmly. If you are using a stove, calmly turn off the fire only after the shaking has stopped.
2. Pre-Confirming “Designated Evacuation Shelters”
[Summary] The public “schools” (elementary/junior high) or “large parks” near your home or office are Japan’s designated evacuation shelters. Confirm their locations on Google Maps in advance.
If a massive earthquake occurs and there is a risk of your home collapsing or a danger of fire, you must move to a “Designated Evacuation Shelter” (Hinanjyo) established by the Japanese local government.
In Japan, the gymnasiums of local public elementary and junior high schools, or large-scale parks, are set up as shelter infrastructure. Since communication networks are highly likely to go down immediately after a disaster, the greatest defensive measure is to complete this task upon relocation: search for designated shelters near your home and office via the local government website, and physically walk the route to confirm it.
3. Mandatory Tools: Installing Multilingual Disaster Prevention Apps
[Summary] Japanese TV and neighborhood loudspeakers only broadcast in Japanese. You must install the “NERV” or “Safety tips” app to receive real-time alerts in English.
During a disaster, access to accurate information dictates life or death. While smartphones in Japan are equipped with an infrastructure that forces an “Earthquake Early Warning” alarm to sound, detailed evacuation instructions on TV or public loudspeakers are only provided in Japanese.
To avoid information isolation, execute the practical procedure of installing one of the following apps on your smartphone:
- NERV Disaster Prevention (NERV): This app has the fastest reporting speed in Japan. It instantly sends push notifications for seismic intensity and tsunami warnings for your current location, aligned with your device’s language settings (e.g., English).
- Safety tips: A disaster information app for foreigners supervised by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). It supports over a dozen languages and includes flowcharts for evacuation actions.
4. Practical Q&A (Elevators and Stockpiling)
[Summary] Never use elevators during or after an earthquake. Furthermore, stockpiling at least “3 days’ worth of water/food and a mobile battery” is an absolute requirement.
Q. I live in a high-rise apartment. Can I use the elevator to escape once the shaking stops?
A. Absolutely do not use it. Japanese elevators are programmed to automatically shut down for safety when they detect seismic tremors. If you are trapped inside, there is a fatal risk of not being rescued for several days. If evacuation is necessary, the objective rule is to always use the “stairs.”
Q. Do I really need a disaster “emergency go-bag”?
A. If a massive earthquake hits a Japanese urban area, the supermarket and convenience store infrastructure will become dysfunctional within hours. Assuming the water and electricity will stop, maintaining a stockpile of at least “3 days’ worth of drinking water and preserved food” and a “high-capacity mobile battery” (to keep your smartphone—your lifeline for information—alive) at home is the minimum defensive procedure for surviving in Japan.
Conclusion: Build All Infrastructure “Before” It Happens
In earthquake preparedness, the approach of “I’ll figure it out when it shakes” does not work. Execute your roadmap during the peaceful period immediately after relocation: secure your furniture, save the routes to the evacuation shelters on Google Maps, and set up multilingual disaster prevention apps. Building this infrastructure in advance is the greatest defensive measure to protect your life and your family’s lives.