Earthquakes (地震) are a terrifying occurrence. Even without magnitude and possible tsunamis, it is a scary experience to have the ground beneath your feet suddenly start shaking. If you happen to fall in love with Japan, its culture and people, you will have to accept the fact that earthquakes can occur anytime. There is no real measure against it, so Japanese people have learned to live with this natural phenomenon. Japan is struck by earthquakes and seismic activities every day due to its location on two colliding tectonic plates. Most of these activities are too small to be recognized, but some of them are full-grown earthquakes. Japanese children in elementary school already learn how to behave in case of an earthquake emergency. If you have never experienced an earthquake before (as did the author when he first came to Japan), chances are you will not know what to do. We will provide you with a short to-do list in case the earth starts to shake.

If your phone is connected to the internet, you’ll most likely receive an alarm around two to three seconds before the earthquake. If you’re watching TV, an alarm will be broadcasted as well. The first thing you should do during an earthquake is to get to a statically safe spot, for example under a table or doorframe. Stay away from windows and any objects that can fall over such as shelfs or closets. The biggest threat during an earthquake is falling objects.

The second step, once the first shockwaves have ceased, is to either get outside or, if you’re in a multiple story building, to open the door. During an earthquake the walls can shift a few millimeters, resulting in blocked doors. Keeping the escape path accessible is pivotal.

The third step is to close any gas taps you might be using to prevent leaks from opening while the gas pipes are moving during the earthquake.

If you remember those three steps, nothing severe should be relatively safe. Sure, it’s really scary but Japan had to fight earthquakes for millenia. The country and its architecture adapted to the situation, making Japan not earthquake-proof but as close as possible. Japanese cities can handle even stronger earthquakes without even being damaged , due to a long history of living with this natural phenomenon. Japan is a wonderful country and if you remember how to behave in an emergency, there is nothing to worry about.
Stay safe!

About Asahi Nihongo

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