News Panic buying grips Japan amid megaquake fears

[thomas]

Japanese authorities have issued a plea for calm after a surge in demand for disaster supplies triggered by concerns over a potential major earthquake. The call came following a magnitude 7.1 tremor that struck the country's south, prompting the weather agency to issue its first-ever advisory warning of an increased likelihood of a massive quake.

Supermarkets nationwide have reported empty shelves as consumers stock up on essentials like bottled water and preserved food. One Tokyo store even apologized for shortages, blaming "quake-related media reports" and announcing potential purchase limits. Online retailers have also seen a spike in sales of disaster kits, portable toilets, and bottled water. Experts warn that hoarding essential goods can exacerbate shortages and urge the public to remain calm and prepared without panic buying. Some retailers along the Pacific coastline also reported similar disaster-related supplies in high demand.

On social media platform X, spam posts taking advantage of fears over the megaquake are rapidly mushrooming. Public broadcaster NHK said spam disguised as helpful quake-related tips was being posted every few seconds on X, with links that instead direct users toward porn or e-commerce sites. Such posts are "making it increasingly difficult for users to reach genuine information about quakes," NHK said.

People urged to avoid panic-buying as megaquake fears spread

Authorities urged people to avoid hoarding as anxiety over a possible megaquake triggered a spike in demand for disaster kits and daily necessities.

www.japantimes.co.jp

Just anecdotally, we noticed an increased number of shoppers yesterday, which can easily be explained by the long weekend (Monday is a public holiday, Yama no hi) and the impending Obon holidays.

 

[johnnyG]

All quiet on the western front coast.

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

North Kyushu is quiet.
I am busy in preparation for the Obon .

 

[thomas]

I guess the government's advice not to panic actually caused panic. However, I have heard from many people who cancelled their Obon family visits to Western Japan.

See also here:

Megaquake fears hit Japan's tourism industry

I feel sorry for the local tourist industry. As if the pandemic hadn't hit them bad enough, now a perhaps ill-worded government advisory led people to cancel their trips and family visits during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. :( Coastal hotels and ryokan in central and western...

jref.com

 

[mdchachi]

I guess the government's advice not to panic actually causes panic. However, I have heard from many people who cancelled their Obon family visits to Western Japan.

Maybe they didn't really want to visit family and this provided a convenient excuse.

 

[thomas]

Supermarkets in our area are devoid of bottled water, instant noodles, and my beloved Calorie Mates (and, of course, other protein snacks). I heard the same from a friend who lives on the other side of the river in Tokyo.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

I've always been kind of brainwashed from Boy Scouts (Be Prepared). I have food and camping gear to get by for a week or two. I have propane heaters and stove. 5 or 6 big battery operated lights with tons of batteries for them. I can't bring myself to spend several thousand dollars for a big generator. We live near a big nursing home and they always get or power back on really fast. I won't mention the guns and ammo I have to fight off the zombie apocalypse , LOL.

 

[mdchachi]

When I lived in Japan my main preparation was to have cases of water on hand and some canned food. I don't think I ever looked into what the official evacuation areas were.

 

[salyavin]

Now days they have an app for that å¨å½é¿é£æã¬ã¤ã - Google Play ã®ã¢ã㪠or ‎全国避難所ガイド

 

[Petaris]

I haven't really noticed anything here at the local grocery store but Nara is a ways from where it is most likely to be a problem.

 

[thomas]

Now days they have an app for that å¨å½é¿é£æã¬ã¤ã - Google Play ã®ã¢ã㪠or ‎全国避難所ガイド

Very useful, thank you! As most J-residents use the iPhone, here's the link to the Apple store.

全国避難所ガイド App - App Store

Download 全国避難所ガイド by 1st Media Corporation on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like 全国避難所ガイド.

apps.apple.com

 

[salyavin]

Well as you see

Very useful, thank you! As most J-residents use the iPhone, here's the link to the Apple store.

全国避難所ガイド App - App Store

Download 全国避難所ガイド by 1st Media Corporation on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like 全国避難所ガイド.

apps.apple.com

Well as you saw in my original post I had included both iphone and Android.

 

[thomas]

Well as you see

Well as you saw in my original post I had included both iphone and Android.

Sorry, I completely missed it.

 

[mdchachi]

I missed it too. The moji-bake threw me off.

 

[salyavin]

It is weird that Google Play comes through with baked moji like that.

In inaka we have a radio that comes on and announces alerts even for heavy rains and mentions shelters if you need them, it can come on 24x7 with a tone which is a bit startling. It comes from the community association.

These days with apps is sure convenient. Navigation apps, more english so no one has to know much Japanese to take the Tokyo metro or many other things. I used to use paper sometimes maps with directions printed from yahoo to help me know where to go. I had a physical atlas. I remember when i-mode came. Things are so much easier now.

Oh wow i-mode is still going and shuts down March 31st of 2026, I thought it was gone years ago.