J-Alert – Japan EAS – Emergency Alert System

Know that scary earthquake alert tone? 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 Entire Country Newsletter Alert. What is J-Alert for? When and how does it appear?

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

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

Every country has its EAS which literally means Emergency Alert System, but in Japan due to the large increasing number of natural disasters, the system has become more efficient.

While in 1945 we had a Japan EAS through Speakers scattered across the region, in February 2007 Japan launched J-Alert in order to more quickly alert the public to emergency threats.

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

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 nationwide speaker system, television, radio, email and cell 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 strike.

FDMA offices in East Japan and/or West 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 for speakers mounted in 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.

For which Emergencies is Japan Alerts used?

The J-ALERT system sends alerts as follows:

Japan Emergency List

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 Possibility of Eruption
• Volcanic Eruption Warning and Eruption Possibility
• Earthquake Prediction Notice for Tōkai Earthquakes
• tsunami warning
• tsunami warning
• weather warning
• Earthquake Early Warning
• Emergency Warnings for Heavy Rain, Heavy Snow, Windstorm, Snowstorm, Waves, and Storm
• Warnings for Heavy Rain, Heavy Snow, Windstorm, Snowstorm, Waves, and Storm
• volcano eruption
• big tsunami warning
• Tōkai Earthquake Earthquake Prediction Advisory Information
• Advisory information for tornado
• Ballistic Missile Information
• Earthquake Prediction Information from the Tōkai Earthquakes
• Air strike information
• Information on guerrilla attacks and special forces
• Information about violent heavy rains
• Information on hypocenter, magnitude, intensities of various areas and presence of tsunami
• Landslide Risk Information
• Large-Scale Terrorism Information
• Other information for civil and national defense
• Volcanic Crater Forecast
• flood forecast
• Severe weather.
• Earthquake
• Tsunami

Why is Japan EAS Alert sound so Bad?

Probably because of 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 you look at the old alerts before J-Alert the sound was different, but it was horrendous. See below a video with all Japan Alert sounds:

Meaning of Japan Emergency Alerts

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