Is Japan Sinking Again? The Truth Behind Earthquake Warnings

Day 773 of living in Japan.

I've lost count of how many times this has happened in the two years I've been in Japan. Friends from China send messages:

"There was a major earthquake in Japan! Are you okay?"

Thank you all again—we're fine. Eating well, drinking well, breathing fresh air, sleeping soundly.

Especially in recent weeks, friends have repeatedly sent me short videos resembling Hollywood disaster films: "Major Japan earthquake kills 300,000 people." It feels like Japan is on the verge of sinking.

Did it actually happen? Or am I unaware?

People fear one thing: fact-checking.

Since so many "news reports" claim Japan had a major earthquake, I had to find the source of this information.

Japan doesn't have as many short video platforms, making it much simpler to find official news sources. In less than three minutes, I found the exact source.

Japan's Cabinet Office official website, disaster prevention dedicated page, disaster prevention system, Nankai Trough earthquake countermeasures.

All research reports, data calculations, disaster area assessments, promotion plans, disaster prevention measures, emergency response plans, reference materials, and even manga-style promotional materials—everything from the 2014 "Basic Plan for Promoting Nankai Trough Earthquake Disaster Prevention Measures" to the present, 10 years of materials, all posted online for anyone to review and download.

People fear one thing: fact-checking.

Japan's Cabinet Office is the central organ of the Japanese government, assisting the Prime Minister in coordinating national policies across broad areas including economy, disaster prevention, and science and technology. Its leadership role in disaster prevention is particularly prominent, promoting national disaster response capacity building through the Central Disaster Prevention Council and working groups.

The Nankai Trough Mega-Earthquake Countermeasures Working Group was established in 2012, following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, under the Central Disaster Prevention Council to study disaster prevention measures for the Nankai Trough mega-earthquake. The group consists of experts and government officials, focusing on life protection, infrastructure strengthening, and economic continuity.

As of March 2025, the working group has held its 29th meeting. On March 31, they released their latest report: "Nankai Trough Mega-Earthquake Countermeasures Working Report." Led by Professor Emeritus Nobuo Fukuwa of Nagoya University, the report evaluates the progress of disaster prevention measures over the past 10 years and considers social changes and new casualty predictions.

I used AI to help me organize the report's summary. After reading it, I couldn't help but sincerely reflect.

Born in adversity!

Natural disasters are fate—no one knows when they'll come.

What people can do is minimize post-disaster losses as much as possible through scientific disaster prevention education, advance preparation, seismic reinforcement, and other methods, safeguarding people's lives and property, and getting society running again as soon as possible.

Look at several concepts proposed in the report:

"Protect your own life yourself"

"Citizens, businesses, communities, and government work together to face disasters"

"Shift from location-based support to people-centered support"

Science, openness, transparency, guidance, and publicity—being prepared at all times is the best approach to facing unknown disasters.

这里是中文版。