As Japan commemorates the 31st anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake while simultaneously battling an ongoing wildfire emergency in Yamanashi Prefecture, foreign residents are being reminded of the critical importance of disaster preparedness in a country where natural disasters remain an ever-present reality.

On January 17, 2026, Japan marked three decades since the devastating earthquake that struck Kobe and surrounding areas in 1995, claiming 6,434 lives. According to NHK, memorial events across Hyogo Prefecture have reached their lowest number ever, reflecting a growing challenge: an increasing proportion of residents, including many foreign nationals, have no personal memory of the disaster. This generational shift has made passing down crucial survival lessons more difficult, even as the need for disaster awareness remains as urgent as ever.

The timing of this anniversary carries particular significance as Yamanashi Prefecture continues to fight a major wildfire that began on January 8, 2026. The blaze, which started on Mount Ogiyama spanning Uenohara City and Otsuki City, has been burning for over a week. On January 16, Otsuki City issued new evacuation orders for 138 households due to heightened risk of flames spreading to residential areas, according to NHK reports. Live footage from the scene shows the fire continuing to spread, demonstrating the persistent danger wildfire poses in Japan's mountainous terrain.

For foreign residents, these concurrent events underscore several critical realities about living in Japan. First, the country faces multiple types of natural disasters—earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and wildfires—often simultaneously. The Yamanashi wildfire, occurring during winter when humidity is low and vegetation is dry, illustrates how seasonal conditions can create unexpected hazards beyond the more commonly discussed earthquake and typhoon risks.

Second, evacuation orders in Japan carry legal weight and should be taken seriously. The 138 households in Otsuki received evacuation instructions (hinan shiji), the highest level of evacuation alert, indicating immediate danger. Foreign residents must understand Japan's three-tier evacuation system: elderly evacuation advisories (hinan junbi), evacuation advisories (hinan kankoku), and evacuation orders (hinan shiji). When orders are issued, residents should evacuate immediately to designated shelters.

Third, the challenge of preserving disaster knowledge affects everyone, regardless of nationality. As memorial events decrease and firsthand witnesses age, expats must proactively educate themselves about disaster preparedness rather than relying on community knowledge transfer. This includes understanding local hazards, knowing evacuation routes, maintaining emergency supplies, and registering for multilingual disaster alerts.

Japanese authorities have emphasized renewing commitment to disaster prevention on this anniversary. For expats, this means ensuring your household is prepared with essential supplies: water, non-perishable food, first-aid kits, flashlights, batteries, and important documents. Many municipalities offer multilingual disaster preparedness guides and smartphone apps that provide real-time alerts in English and other languages.

The Yamanashi wildfire also highlights the importance of monitoring local news and official announcements. Wildfires can develop rapidly, and evacuation orders may be issued with limited notice. Expats should ensure they're registered with their local municipal office and have access to emergency information systems.

As Japan reflects on the lessons of the Kobe earthquake while managing current emergency situations, foreign residents should view this as an opportunity to review and strengthen their own disaster preparedness plans. In a country where the question is not if disasters will occur but when, being prepared can mean the difference between safety and tragedy.