About YURAGI
YURAGI turns Japan’s official earthquake and volcano data into language anyone can understand — what happened, what it means for you, and what to do.
Why we built this
Japan publishes some of the best earthquake data in the world, but much of it is written for specialists, and mostly in Japanese. In the minutes after a quake, people — including millions of foreign residents and visitors — need something simpler: Is this serious? Does it affect me? What should I do?
What YURAGI does
- Shows the latest earthquake and tsunami information issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency, explained in plain language
- Translates technical terms — intensity, magnitude, depth — into everyday comparisons
- Gives a calm, readable overview of Mt. Fuji’s volcanic status
- Offers practical preparedness guides in sixteen languages
What YURAGI does not do
- It does not predict earthquakes or eruptions. Science cannot currently predict the time, place and size of an earthquake.
- It does not issue warnings or Earthquake Early Warnings. Use the official alerts on your phone, TV and radio.
- It is not an official service and is not affiliated with the Japan Meteorological Agency or any government body.
Data sources
Japan Meteorological Agency
Earthquake, tsunami, volcano and weather information. All event and weather data shown here originates from JMA.
Fire and Disaster Management Agency
Damage reports after earthquakes, shown as headlines under Official updates.
P2P Quake (P2P地震情報)
A community-run API that relays JMA earthquake information. Used for real-time updates.
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan
Base map tiles (GSI Tiles).
Cabinet Office and other ministries
Preparedness guidance, cited at the end of each article.
Open source
YURAGI is being developed as an open-source project, so anyone can check how it works, suggest improvements or add a translation. The code is released under the MIT License and our original text under CC BY 4.0. Data from each source remains subject to that source’s own terms.
Design
The interface draws on Japanese aesthetics — sumi-e ink painting, the seigaiha wave pattern, and the traditional colors ai (indigo), kincha (golden brown) and shu (vermilion) — used with restraint, so that calm information looks calm. Vermilion is reserved for danger.
Contact
Found an error, a mistranslation or something unclear? Please tell us — in a tool like this, accuracy matters most. Use whichever is easier for you: