J-Alert (; full name ) is the early warning system used in Japan. J-Alert was launched in February 2007.
System
J-Alert is a
satellite based system that allows authorities to quickly broadcast alerts to local
Mass media and to
directly via a system of nationwide
, television, radio,
email, and
Cell Broadcast.
According to Japanese officials, it takes about one second to inform local officials, and between four and twenty seconds to relay the message to citizens. An enhanced version of the J-Alert receivers were installed by the end of March 2019. The new models can automatically process the information within two seconds, compared to the older models that can take up to twenty seconds.
J-Alert broadcasts via both ground systems and the Superbird-B3 communication satellite.
When there is a civil emergency such as a ballistic missile heading towards Japan, a siren called Civil Protection Siren sounds across loudspeakers.
Information transmission capabilities
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Earthquake
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Earthquake Early Warning
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Quick updates on hypocenter, magnitude, and precautions of possible tsunami
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Information of hypocenter, magnitude, intensities of various areas, and the presence of tsunami
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Earthquake prediction warning for the Tōkai earthquakes
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Earthquake prediction advisory information of the Tōkai earthquakes
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Earthquake prediction information of the Tōkai earthquakes
-
Tsunami
-
Volcano eruption
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Emergency warning of volcanic eruption and the possibility of eruption
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Warning of volcanic eruption and the possibility of eruption
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Volcanic crater forecast
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Severe weather
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Emergency warnings for heavy rain, heavy snow, gale, Winter storm, Wind wave, and storm surge
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Warnings for heavy rain, heavy snow, gale, Winter storm, Wind wave, and storm surge
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Weather advisory
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Information of the risk of Landslide
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Advisory information for tornado
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Information of violent heavy rain
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Flood forecast
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Special emergency threats
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Information of ballistic missiles
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Information of Airstrike
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Information of guerrilla and special forces attacks
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Information of large-scale terrorism
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Other information for civil and national defense
Adoption rate
Many prefectures and
were slow in adopting the system. Upon its introduction, the Japanese government hoped to have 80% of the country equipped with the J-Alert system by 2009.
However, by 2011, only 36% of the nation had been covered. Cost had been a major factor; the initial installation is estimated to be around 430 million
Japanese yen, and the yearly maintenance is estimated to be around 10 million
Japanese yen.
By May 2013, 99.6% of municipalities nationwide were covered.
Notable instances
-
On 13 April 2023, a missile launch warning led residents to take cover from debris that most likely fell into the sea hundreds of miles away. The alert, just before 8 a.m., triggered sirens on Hokkaido and sent automated messages to mobile phones in J-Alert urging the northern island's more than five million residents to seek immediate shelter, after Pyongyang fired a new type of ballistic missile.
See also
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Emergency population warning
External links
