Japanese for Emergencies: Earthquakes, Police and Lost Property
Japan is one of the safest places to travel or live, but things still go wrong: a lost wallet, a sudden illness, an earthquake alert on your phone at 3 a.m. In those moments, a handful of Japanese phrases and a little local knowledge make a real difference. This guide covers the numbers to call, the words to know and what to do in the most common situations.
Emergency numbers
| Number | Service | When to call |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police (警察, keisatsu) | Crime, theft, traffic accidents, someone in danger. |
| 119 | Fire and ambulance (消防・救急) | Fires, serious illness or injury. |
Note that Japan uses different numbers from Europe, the UK, the US and Australia, so it is worth saving them in your phone. Calls are free from mobiles and payphones. Operators may be able to connect an interpreter, but don’t count on it: knowing a few phrases helps you get help faster. For situations that are not emergencies, many areas have advice lines for medical questions; your city or prefecture website will list them.
Phrases for an emergency call
When you call 119, the first question is usually 火事ですか、救急ですか。 (“Is it a fire or an ambulance?”). Answer, then give the address.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 救急です | kyūkyū desu | It’s a medical emergency (I need an ambulance) |
| 火事です | kaji desu | There’s a fire |
| 助けて！ | tasukete! | Help! |
| 住所は〇〇です | jūsho wa … desu | The address is … |
| 友達が倒れました | tomodachi ga taoremashita | My friend has collapsed |
| けがをしました | kega o shimashita | I’ve been injured |
| 英語を話せる人はいますか？ | eigo o hanaseru hito wa imasu ka? | Is there anyone who speaks English? |
The address is the hardest part. Keep your hotel card or your home address written in Japanese in your wallet or phone. If you don’t know where you are, describe nearby landmarks such as a station, a convenience store or a large building, or ask someone nearby to help. For illness and medical vocabulary, see our guide to Japanese at the doctor and pharmacy.
Earthquakes
Small earthquakes are common in Japan, and buildings are designed with them in mind. Your phone may sound an Earthquake Early Warning (緊急地震速報, kinkyū jishin sokuhō) a few seconds before strong shaking. When it does:
- Protect your head and get under a sturdy table. Stay away from windows and things that can fall.
- Don’t run outside during the shaking. Falling glass and signs are a bigger risk than the building.
- Afterwards, check for gas and fire, and listen to official announcements.
- Near the coast, follow tsunami warnings (津波警報, tsunami keihō) and move to high ground or a designated evacuation building straight away.
Evacuation sites are marked with signs reading 避難所 (hinanjo, shelter) or 避難場所 (hinan basho, evacuation area). If you live in Japan, find your nearest one now; your local city office publishes maps. The Japan Tourism Agency’s Safety Tips app sends disaster alerts in several languages and is worth installing before you travel.
Useful disaster words
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 地震 | jishin | earthquake |
| 津波 | tsunami | tsunami |
| 台風 | taifū | typhoon |
| 避難してください | hinan shite kudasai | Please evacuate |
| 高台 | takadai | high ground |
| 停電 | teiden | power cut |
Lost property and theft
Lost items in Japan are often handed in, so it is always worth asking. Go to the nearest police box (交番, kōban), or ask the staff if you lost something on a train, in a shop or in a taxi.
- 財布をなくしました。 (saifu o nakushimashita, “I’ve lost my wallet.”)
- 電車に傘を忘れました。 (densha ni kasa o wasuremashita, “I left my umbrella on the train.”)
- パスポートを盗まれました。 (pasupōto o nusumaremashita, “My passport has been stolen.”)
Be ready to say when and where you lost it and describe it: its colour, size and what was inside. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact your country’s embassy or consulate, which will explain how to get an emergency travel document.
Be ready before anything happens
A little preparation goes a long way: save the emergency numbers, keep your address in Japanese, carry travel insurance details, and know where your embassy is. If you are moving to Japan, our first-month checklist covers registering where you live, which also helps local services reach you in an emergency. And if you’d like to practise these phrases out loud, a tutor can role-play the call with you, so the words come out when you need them.