Japan Emergency Alert System (EAS) - J-Alert

You know that creepy earthquake alert ringtone? Remember that annoying warning while watching some Japanese Anime or TV show? In this article we are going to talk about Japan's famous Emergency Alert System known as EAS (Emergency Alert System) or J-Alert.

In Japanese it is also called Zenkoku Shunji Keihō Shisutemu/J Ararto [全国時報システム] which means something like Newsletter Alert for the Whole Country. What is J-Alert for? When and how does he appear?

Below we will leave the nostalgic music and scary for you to hear. The video also presents some interesting information about Japan EAS such as Alert levels:

What is the Purpose of J-Alert or Japan EAS?

All countries have their EAS which literally means Emergency Alert System, but in Japan due to the increasing number of natural disasters, the system has become more efficient.

While in 1945 we had a Japan EAS through loudspeakers spread across the region, in February 2007 Japan launched the J-Alert with the aim of more quickly alerting the public to emergency threats.

The purpose of Japan EAS or J-Alert is warn about earthquakes, severe weather, volcanoes, missiles and other hazards. The system was developed to help with evacuation.

Japan eas - emergency alert system
Japan EAS - Alert on TV

How does J-Alert work?

J-Alert is a satellite-based system that allows authorities to quickly broadcast alerts to local media and citizens directly through a system of nationwide loudspeakers, television, radio, email and cellular broadcasts. .

J-ALERT basically works like this:

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) receives information about an emergency situation such as a tsunami or missile attack.

FDMA offices in eastern Japan and/or western Japan transmit emergency information to J-ALERT receiving equipment via terrestrial satellite and backup circuits.

J-ALERT transmitters receive information and transmit it across the country in the form of:

  • Ads from loudspeakers mounted on towers and buildings
  • Alerts on TVs and radios
  • Push alerts on cell phones

All notices except weather warnings severe, are broadcast in five languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean and Portuguese.

Japan eas - emergency alert system
Japan Emergency Alert on Mobile

What Emergencies is Japan Alerts used for?

The J-ALERT system sends alerts as follows:

StreamingAlert Type
always automaticMissile Launch, Terrorist Attack, Military Attack, Earthquake, Tsunami, Volcanic Eruption, Weather Emergency etc.
Automatic Depending on LocationRegional Details on Earthquake, Tsunami, Volcanic Eruption, Tornado, Flood etc.
not normally doneSpecific river flood levels, weather warnings, volcano warnings, etc.

List of Emergencies in Japan

Below is a list of possible emergencies that may receive some type of alert:

  • Special emergency threats
  • Quick updates on hypocenter, magnitude and precautions for a possible tsunami
  • Volcanic Eruption Emergency Warning and Eruption Possibility
  • Volcanic eruption warning and possibility of eruption
  • Earthquake Forecast Warning for Tōkai Earthquakes
  • Tsunami warning
  • Tsunami warning
  • weather warning
  • Earthquake Early Warning
  • Emergency warnings for heavy rain, heavy snow, gale, blizzard, waves and storm
  • Warnings for heavy rain, heavy snow, gale, blizzard, waves and storm
  • volcano eruption
  • Great Tsunami Warning
  • Earthquake Forecast Advisory Information from the Tōkai Earthquakes
  • Tornado advisory information
  • Ballistic missile information
  • Earthquake prediction information from the Tōkai earthquakes
  • Information about air strikes
  • Information about guerrilla attacks and special forces
  • Information about violent heavy rains
  • Information on hypocenter, magnitude, intensities of various areas and presence of tsunami
  • Information about the risk of landslides
  • Information on large-scale terrorism
  • Other information for civil and national defense
  • volcanic crater forecast
  • Flood forecast
  • Severe weather.
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami
Japan eas - emergency alert system
japan eas – emergency alert system

Why is the Japan EAS Alert sound so bad?

Probably because of the old equipment from when the emergency transmission system was implemented. They never updated so it looks worse compared to modern equipment.

Another reason is probably to keep the default. If we look at the old alerts before J-Alert the sound was different, but it was horrendous. See below a video with all the Japan Alert sounds:

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Meaning of Japan Emergency Alerts

If you are a foreigner in Japan and for some reason you have not received the J-Alert message in your language, the word list below can help you identify the type of alert and how to evacuate.

JapaneseRomajiMeaning
注意報 chūihōAdvices
警報 keihoNotices
特別警報 tokubetsu keihōemergency notices
気象情報 kishō jōhōBulletins – provide information to supplement warnings and recommendations
風雪注意報 fūsetsu chūihōWind and snow warning
強風注意報 kyōfū chūihōwindstorm warning
大雨注意報 ōame chūihōHeavy rain warning
大雪注意報 ōyuki chūihōHeavy snow warning
濃霧注意報 nōmu chūihōDense fog warning
雷注意報 kaminari chūihōstorm warning
乾燥注意報 kansō chūihōdry air warning
なだれ注意報 nadare chūihōavalanche warning
着氷chakuhyōIce/snow accumulation warning
霜注意報 shimo chūihōFrost warning
低温注意報 teion chūihōlow temperature warning
融雪注意報 yūsetsu chūihōsnow melt warning
高潮注意報 takashio chūihōStorm increase warning
波浪注意報 harō chūihōhigh wave warning
洪水注意報 kōzui chūihōflood warning
暴風警報 bōfū keihōstorm warning
暴風雪警報 bōfūsetsu keihōsnow storm warning
大雨警報 ōame keihōHeavy rain alert
大雪警報 ōyuki keihōHeavy snow warning
高潮警報 takashio keihōstorm wave warning
波浪警報 harō keihohigh wave warning
洪水警報 kōzui keihōflood warning
海上風警報 kaijōfū keihōClose wind warning
海上強風警報 kaijō kyōfū keihōwindstorm warning
海上暴風警報 kaijō bōfū keihōstorm warning
海上台風警報 kaijō taifū keihōtyphoon warning
海上濃霧警報 kaijō nōmu keihōDense fog warning
海上着氷警報 kaijō chakuhyō keihoice warning
海上うねり警報 kaijō uneri keihōsea ripple warning
地震情報 jishin jōhōearthquake information
震度速報 shindo sokuhoseismic intensity information
震源に関する情報 shingen ni kan suru jōhōearthquake information
震源震度に関する情報 shingen / shindo ni kan suru jōhōEarthquake and seismic intensity information
各地の震度に関する情報 kakuchi no shindo ni kan suru jōhoSeismic intensity information at each location
遠地地震に関する情報 enchi jishin ni kan suru jōhoDistant information about earthquakes
緊急地震速報 kinkyū jishin sokuhoearthquake early warning
津波情報 tsunami jōhōTsunami information
津波予報 tsunami yohōTsunami forecast
津波注意報 tsunami chūihōTsunami warning
津波警報 tsunami keihoTsunami warning
火山情報 kazan jōhōvolcano information
噴火予報 funka yohōvolcanic forecast
噴火警報 funka keihovolcanic warning
洪水予報 kōzui yohōFlood forecast
台風情報 taifū jōhōtyphoon information
風速 fūsokuWind Speed - Usually expressed in meters/second
余震 yoshinAftershocks – These earthquakes occur after the main earthquake and vary in size and frequency. It can continue for several days and even occur many months after an earthquake.
洪水 kōzuifloods
浸水 shinsuiInundation
崖くずれ gake-kuzureLandslide – Earth and sand on steep slopes crumble and fall due to heavy rains or earthquakes.
土砂くずれ dosha-kuzureMud Slide – A mass of mud and other land material falls down a slope or other slope.
警戒 keikaiVigilance/Warning/Caution - To be careful
通行止め tsūkō-domeRoad interdiction / inability to pass
避難 hinanEvacuation - To escape to a safer place during a disaster.
避難所 hinan-joShelter / Refuge / Evacuation Center – Places where those who have lost their homes due to a disaster can temporarily stay.
避難場所 hinan-bashoEvacuation Area – Places to temporarily evacuate during a disaster.
避難勧告 hinan-kankokuEvacuation Notice – A recommendation to evacuate as announced by the mayor. This occurs in situations where the possibility of harm to people is high.
避難指示 hinan-shijiEvacuation instruction – This is given when danger is imminent and is stronger than hinan-kankoku.
被災者 hisaishadisaster victim
安否確認 anpi-kakuninsecurity confirmation
行方不明 yukue-fumeiThe whereabouts of a person is unknown
非常食 hijō-shokuEmergency rations (food)
停電 teidenBlackout / power outage
断水 dansuiWaterfall

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