Kishida cancels central Asia trip after earthquake risk warning

"Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled plans to visit central Asia on Friday, and spearhead precautionary measures instead, following an unprecedented warning that the risk of a major Pacific coast earthquake was higher than usual."

A selfless act, and a great decision to forego travel and concentrate on those suffering first and foremost.

Japan estimates at 70% to 80% the probability of an earthquake of magnitude 8 or 9 happening around the trough in the next 30 years, according to the infrastructure ministry.

So he will stop traveling for the next 30 years then?

The earthquake prediction industry is a complete scam.

The only thing that they can do is to use statistics, and then say something like "because of the statistic of a big earthquake happening in this area in the next 30 years, there is a non-zero possibility that this earthquake is just a foreshock of a larger earthquake".

I mean, it is ok to be aware and prepared, but I would love if they just stopped to make blanket predictions.

People become numb to these and then when the real big one comes, people are caught off-guard.

Well, then... I guess all those who constantly complain about Kishida's overseas trips -- despite them being perfectly normal for a world leader of a sizeable country -- will have to find some other angle for their copy-paste anti-Japan faux-outrage.

But somehow, I don't think they'll find it too difficult.

Wow, he's found a spine of sorts.

I mean, it is ok to be aware and prepared, but I would love if they just stopped to make blanket predictions.

People become numb to these and then when the real big one comes, people are caught off-guard." @luis David.

Even with the best intentions, nature is still unpredictable due to the fact that the tools we use are from finite minds. Therefore, the prediction model reflects the results of the best minds. However, creation or nature is from infinite minds. So, what we already know or discovered is just a mere spark.

And it happened - Magnitude 5.3 around Odawara.... 19:57.

Best of luck. Here's hoping that the scientists are wrong this time.

And it happened - Magnitude 5.3 around Odawara.... 19:57.

Scary, but NHK is saying it does not appear to be connected with the Nankai Trough. Flyjin who don't believe this may want to start packing their bags...

And it happened - Magnitude 5.3 around Odawara.... 19:57.

That gave my place a bit of a shake, but as usual it was the alert noise on my iPhone which shredded my nerves.

That gave my place a bit of a shake, but as usual it was the alert noise on my iPhone which shredded my nerves.

Turned off those emergency notifications long ago. Was getting loud warnings of flooding in kyushuu every few hours (even in the middle of the night) when I live in a completely different part of Japan. Definitely not good for the heart.

Those notifications are definitely overused and actually cause complacency.

Damn, no airmiles for the next few days.

Peter Hadfield's 1991 book "Sixty Seconds That Will Change the World" is about the consequences of a major earthquake in the Tokyo area. One of his surprising conclusions is that the rest of the world would come off far worse than Japan. US treasuries would have to be sold to meet insurance claims and pay for rebuilding, resulting in falling bond prices and rising interest rates. The yen would then rise as these overseas savings were repatriated.

Those notifications are definitely overused and actually cause complacency.

I don't get them all that often, but in the event of something that could be a genuine risk of injury or damage, they might just give you a few seconds head start. But it would be nice if they found a way to make them less "early internet jumpscare video" in tone while still conveying "hey, watch out"...

Did Japan develop a new technology that allows them to predict earthquakes?

CephusAug. 9  04:45 pm JST

"Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled plans to visit central Asia on Friday, and spearhead precautionary measures instead, following an unprecedented warning that the risk of a major Pacific coast earthquake was higher than usual."

A selfless act, and a great decision to forego travel and concentrate on those suffering first and foremost.

A good decision, yes. Calling it a selfless act might be just a wee bit hyperbolic since this is kind of in his job description.

When is the earthquake supposed to happen, when the big earthquake happens in Tokyo, skycrapers will be ripped from their foundation, crashing on people below

It two typhoon gonna pass over Fukushima the next two Friday,our weather service alert us in real time,in case of severe storms

Those notifications are definitely overused and actually cause complacency

Leave them for earthquakes. Floodings are a different thing.

It can be a life saver, and at least prepares you to act quickly