At precisely 2:40 p.m. on January 15, 2026, the ground beneath Toyama Prefecture in Japan shuddered as a magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue an official alert. Though the tremor registered a seismic intensity of 4 out of a maximum of 7 on the Japanese scale, no tsunami warning followed, and early reports indicated that the quake’s very shallow depth was a key factor in its localized impact. For many residents, the event was a jarring reminder of the ever-present threat posed by earthquakes in this seismically active region—and for some, a call to revisit how prepared they really are.
According to the official alert, the epicenter was pinpointed at coordinates N 36.4, E 137.6, right in the heart of Toyama Prefecture. The agency’s swift response and the lack of a tsunami warning offered a measure of reassurance, yet the episode underscored the unpredictable nature of earthquakes in Japan, a country where disaster awareness is woven into the very fabric of daily life.
For those living in earthquake-prone regions, each tremor—no matter how mild or severe—serves as both a test and a lesson. As a native of Los Angeles, one writer for the Larchmont Buzz recently reflected on a lifetime of seismic experiences: “My family will tell you I think about earthquakes a lot. Probably because I’m a native of Los Angeles, and for as long as I can remember, we’ve been talking about ‘the big one’ the way other families talk about summer vacation plans.” The author recounted a personal history marked by some of California’s most memorable quakes, including the San Fernando (1971, M 6.6), Whittier (1987, M 5.0), Loma Prieta (1989, M 6.9), Northridge (1994, M 6.7), and Baja California (2010, M 7.2) earthquakes. Each event, whether experienced firsthand or through the media, left a lasting impression and reinforced the importance of being prepared.
But what does preparedness actually look like? The author of the Larchmont Buzz piece breaks it down into what they call the “3 M’s”: Maps, Money, and Mobilize. These aren’t just catchy slogans—they’re practical steps that anyone can take to be ready when the world gets “wobbly.”
First, there’s the matter of maps. In an age where smartphones and GPS devices have become indispensable, it’s easy to forget that technology can fail when it’s needed most. “Try driving your usual routes without your phone or GPS. If you instantly break into a cold sweat, that’s your sign,” the author quips. Their advice? Print out paper maps of your local area and keep them somewhere accessible—your glove compartment, emergency kit, or even taped to the fridge. Unlike digital devices, paper maps don’t run out of battery or lose signal when disaster strikes.
Next comes money—the kind that folds, not the kind that beeps. In the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, electronic payment systems might be down, rendering credit and debit cards useless. “Keep some cash on hand—small bills and coins for food, gas, or feeding vending machines to give you their last lemon-lime soda,” the article suggests. It’s a simple precaution, but one that can make all the difference when ATMs and card readers go offline.
The third “M” is mobilize, which means having a real, actionable plan. This includes knowing where you’ll go, who you’ll check in with, and where your family or friends will meet if separated. The author recommends packing a Grab-and-Go bag for home, work, and the car, stocked with essentials like a high-quality mask (preferably with a P100 filter, which offers strong protection against dust, smoke, or even asbestos that may be present after a quake), sturdy walking shoes, boxed water, medications, and supplies for pets. “Reliable walking shoes (cute shoes don’t outrun earthquakes),” the author notes wryly, emphasizing the need for practicality over style.
These recommendations aren’t just theoretical. The author points to the January 2025 fires near the Palisades evacuation areas, where a local pharmacy had a 12-hour wait for prescriptions—a stark reminder that access to basics can vanish quickly in an emergency. The article also encourages readers to reach out to city officials now, before disaster strikes, to learn where emergency supply drop-off locations will be. “We all participate in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill every October—drop, cover, hold on, snap a selfie afterward—but maybe it’s time to revisit it with a little more seriousness,” the author muses, suggesting that a more earnest approach could pay dividends in a real crisis.
What sets Japan apart, according to the Larchmont Buzz writer, is the way disaster preparedness is normalized and integrated into everyday life. Public safety campaigns in Japan teach people how to make emergency toilets out of cardboard or build platform beds for shelter. “When preparedness becomes a lifestyle, you know you’ve leveled up,” the author observes. In contrast, the U.S. approach tends to be more reactive—“We’ll deal with it when we have to… preferably after coffee.”
Imagine, the author suggests, if Americans had short, practical public-safety ads teaching them how to build a go-bag that’s more than just snacks, shut off a gas line without calling the neighbors, or fashion a temporary shelter from what’s already in the garage. “Preparedness doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be empowering, even comforting,” the article concludes. It’s a sentiment that resonates strongly after an event like the Toyama earthquake, where the difference between inconvenience and catastrophe often comes down to how ready people are before the shaking starts.
For Toyama residents, the January 15 quake was, fortunately, a manageable event—no tsunami warning, no reports of widespread damage, and a swift response from authorities. Yet, as both Japan and earthquake-prone regions like California know all too well, the next tremor could be far more serious. The lessons from both sides of the Pacific are clear: preparedness is not just a checklist, but a mindset, and cultivating it could make all the difference when the ground begins to move.
As the dust settles in Toyama, the hope is that this latest quake serves as a timely reminder for everyone—whether in Japan, California, or elsewhere—that readiness is a shared responsibility. After all, when it comes to earthquakes, it’s not a question of if, but when.