Earthquakes and typhoons
Earthquakes and typhoons are part of life in Japan, and the warnings come fast, on phones, TV and the city loudspeaker. This lesson covers the warnings, what to do and say in the moment, evacuating, and getting ready at home. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.
25 disaster words
Each card shows a word with a sentence you'd hear on the news or say at home. Several reuse words from earlier lessons; the note says which.
Warnings and levels
Weather warnings mostly go up in three steps. Since May 2026, rain and flood warnings also carry a level that matches the evacuation levels, such as . Evacuation advice uses five levels (); these are the top three. Earthquakes are measured in , the shaking where you are.
| Level | Name | Meaning |
|---|
- Evacuating isn't always the shelter. means getting somewhere safe. A friend's house on higher ground, or an upper floor, can be safer than a trip to the shelter.
- Disaster message line. After a big earthquake, call 171 to leave or listen to voice messages (). Phone networks also run a web version.
- Typhoons close schools. Many schools close when a storm warning () is out in the morning. Check your school's rules.
Three patterns to use today
Say it in Japanese
Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.