What do people get wrong about earthquake preparation in Japan?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Preparation here is treated as ordinary household maintenance. Government surveys show which parts people actually do — and which they skip.
What the surveys show
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Households that have secured furniture against toppling | 35.9% | Cabinet Office survey, September 2022 |
| Households with 3+ days of drinking water stocked | 69.8% | Cabinet Office survey, August 2025 |
| Households with 3+ days of food stocked | 59.7% | Same |
| Households with 3+ days of hygiene supplies | 38.7% | Same |
Official guidance calls for at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, and stocks for at least 3 days, ideally a week.
The gap is clear: people stock water, but two-thirds have not secured the furniture that injures them before they reach it.
[Verify] Figures from Cabinet Office public-opinion surveys (2022 and 2025). Confirm before publication.
Misunderstanding 1｜A grab bag is the main thing
Securing tall furniture and appliances is the first item in official advice. Injuries often happen before anyone reaches a bag.
Misunderstanding 2｜Run outside immediately
Guidance from Japanese authorities generally advises protecting your head and staying put until the shaking stops. Falling objects outside are a hazard.
Misunderstanding 3｜Supplies means food only
Water, a torch, a radio, a power bank, medication, a portable toilet and cash are all commonly listed. Water is the largest item by volume — 3 litres per person per day.
Misunderstanding 4｜Stock it once
Stored food and water have dates. Rotating stock through normal use is the standard advice.
Misunderstanding 5｜Visitors do not need to think about it
Knowing your building's evacuation site and enabling your phone's emergency alerts takes minutes. Municipal hazard maps are published online.
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Sources
- Cabinet Office, "Public opinion survey on disaster prevention" (September 2022)
https://survey.gov-online.go.jp/r04/r04-bousai/
- Cabinet Office, "Public opinion survey on disaster prevention" (August 2025)
https://survey.gov-online.go.jp/public_safety/202510/r07/r07-bousai/
- Cabinet Office — disaster management
https://www.bousai.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for official disaster guidance. Follow the instructions of local authorities and your accommodation.
Sources
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