Wednesday, August 14, 2024 The recent surge in powerful earthquakes in Japan has put the country on high alert, leading to growing concerns about the safety of foreign tourists. These concerns are particularly focused on potential language barriers and the lack of sufficient multilingual emergency information, which could put tourists at greater risk during a major disaster. On August 8, 2024, a strong earthquake struck the waters near Kyushu, prompting widespread warnings across southern Japan.
Experts are now concerned that this event could signal the potential for a more devastating earthquake along the Nankai Trough, a region with a high probability of experiencing a massive quake. If a disaster similar to the 2011 Fukushima earthquake were to occur, the consequences could be catastrophic. Lack of Multilingual Safety Information Masaru Takayama, head of a Kyoto-based travel agency, has raised concerns about the inadequate availability of safety information in languages other than Japanese for foreign tourists.
He pointed out that critical resources, such as maps indicating areas at risk of earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides, are primarily available only in Japanese, which could leave travelers without essential guidance during a disaster. Takayama emphasized that this gap in multilingual information could lead to confusion among tourists, leaving them unsure of where to go, how to seek medical assistance, or where to find shelter in an emergency. He urged the governmen.