J-Alert


J-Alert is a nationwide warning system in Japan launched in February 2007. It is designed to quickly inform the public of various threats. The system was developed in the hope that early warnings would speed up evacuation times and help coordinate emergency response.

System

J-Alert is a satellite based system that allows authorities to quickly broadcast alerts to local media and to citizens directly via a system of nationwide loudspeakers, television, radio, email and cell broadcasts. According to Japanese officials, it takes about 1 second to inform local officials, and between 4 and 20 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 2 seconds, compared to the older models that can take up to 20 seconds.
All warnings, except for severe weather warnings, are broadcast in five languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Korean and Portuguese. The warnings were broadcast in these languages during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The severe weather warnings are only broadcast in Japanese.
For NHK and other TV broadcasters, during emergencies, the system utilizes ISDB with 1seg to automatically turn on all radios and televisions with 1seg technology and tunes to NHK for the areas at risk.
J-Alert broadcasts via both ground systems and the Superbird-B2 communication satellite.
When there is a civil emergency such as a ballistic missile heading towards Japan, a special air raid siren sounds across loudspeakers and on TV and radio. When the siren starts, if it ends when the square waves hit at 329 kHz and 203 kHz, that means that a civil emergency is in effect. If the square waves reach 261 kHz and 283 kHz, that means the missile has passed.

Information transmission capabilities

Many prefectures and urban areas 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 yen, and the yearly maintenance is estimated to be around 10 million yen.
By May 2013, 99.6% of municipalities nationwide were covered.