{"id":4886,"date":"2022-01-20T05:17:06","date_gmt":"2022-01-19T20:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/calling-119-for-emergency-assistance-in-japan\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T14:57:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T05:57:18","slug":"calling-119-for-emergency-assistance-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/calling-119-for-emergency-assistance-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Calling 119 for Emergency Assistance in Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Dial 119<\/strong><\/span> for the fire department or medical services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Dial 110<\/strong> <\/span>for police<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>119 in Japan is a direct-dial-free emergency number that connects the caller to fire and emergency medical services from any phone.&nbsp; Unlike emergency number services in many other countries, the 119 system in Japan only connects to fire or ambulance services.&nbsp; Police use a separate but similar emergency number, 110.&nbsp; Dialing either from a landline will automatically locate your position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/morethanrelo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Emergency_Assistance_Revised.pdf\">&#8211; Emergency_Assistance_PDF for Printing &#8211;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More than 90% or departments are using three-way call services to communicate in English and other foreign languages when dialing for ambulance or fire. However, it is highly recommended that you know some basic essential vocabulary in Japanese, or keep this cheat sheet near your phone at home in the even that any English speaking operator is unable to help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Basic Vocabulary:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fire\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KAJI DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Car Accident\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 JIDOUSHA JIKO DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ambulance\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KYUU KYUU DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Police \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEISATSU DESU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ask a Neighbor \/ Passerby to Call for Help<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Please call an ambulance!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KYUU KYUU SHA O YONDE KUDASI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please call the fire department!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SHOBOSHA O YONDE KUDASAI<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please call the police!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEISATSU O YONDE KUDASAI<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Describing Your Emergency <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bleeding\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SHUKKETSU DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broken bone\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KOSSETSU DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Burn\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 HIDOI YAKEDO DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Difficulty breathing\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KOKYUU KONNAN DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Convulsions\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEIREN DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chest pains\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 MUNE GA TAIHEN KURUSHII DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High fever\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KOU NETSU DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Injury\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEGA DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poison\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DOKUBUTSU DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sick\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BYOUKI DESU<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unconscious\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ISHIKI FUMEI DESU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To get Emergency Assistance by phone in Japan, Speak simply and clearly, in Japanese if possible, and explain:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What you need \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 &#8211; Police (110), Fire Department, Ambulance (119)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What happened \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 &#8211; Fire, Accident, Injury, Illness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where you are\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 &#8211; Address<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who you are \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 &#8211; Name, phone number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sample Phone Call to 119<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is neither precise nor exhaustive.&nbsp; It is designed to help you get a basic idea of what is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\">\n<table border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">SHOU BOU CHOU&#8230; KAJI DESU KA? KYUU KYUU DESU KA? <\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">(Fire department&#8230; Fire or ambulance?)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>Caller:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\">KYUU KYUU DESU. (Ambulance)KAJI DESU (Fire)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">DOU SHIMASHITA KA?&nbsp; (What happened?)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>Caller:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><em>(see \u201cDescribing Your Emergency\u201d below)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">JUSHO HA DOCHIRADESUKA? (What is the address?) <em>\u2013 AND \/ OR &#8211;<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\">NANI KU, NANI CHO, NANCHO ME, NAN BAN, NAN GO DESUKA?(Please give the ward (or city) name first, then town name and&nbsp; banchi number.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>Caller:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\">NAGOYA, NAKA KU, MARUNOUCHI, 3-17-6 4F NAKATO MARUNOUCHI BUILDING<em>(see \u201cGiving Your Address\u201d below)<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">NAGOYA, NAKA KU, MARUNOUCH, 3-17-6 4F NAKATO MARUNOUCHI BUILDING<\/span><br><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> <em>(They will likely repeat your address)<\/em><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">ONAMAE HA (What is your name)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>Caller:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><em>YOUR NAME<\/em> DESU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>119:<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">DENWA BANGO O OSHIETE KUDASAI ( What is your phone number)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"74\"><strong>Caller:<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"529\">052-973-3957 DESU<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Giving Your Address<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The emergency operator needs to know how to find you to send help.&nbsp; \u201cLandline\u201d phones will automatically provide them with an address, but cellular phones will not, and the operator is very likely to confirm the automatically generated one.&nbsp; Regardless of why you should know your address and, if possible, how to give directions to your house in some semblance of Japanese. &nbsp;To begin with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ENGLISH address of the H&amp;R Group in Tokyo is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #003366;\"><strong>1F EXOS Ebisu 1-24-14 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku Tokyo 150-0013 Japan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Giving this address will confuse the emergency operator.&nbsp; They are looking for the address in the <em>JAPANESE<\/em> style, which is reversed from English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #003366;\"><strong>150-0013 Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu 1-24-14, 1F EXOS Ebisu<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope this very basic guide will give you some idea of calling for Emergency Assistance in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Image: By PRiMENON (Own work) [<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html\">GFDL<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\">CC-BY-SA-3.0<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/copyleft\/fdl.html\">GFDL<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\/\">CC-BY-SA-3.0<\/a>], <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File%3AJapanese_TOYOTA_HIMEDIC_2nd_ambulance.jpg\">via Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dial 119 for the fire department or medical services Dial 110 for police 119 in Japan is a direct-dial-free emergency number that connects the caller to fire and emergency medical services from any phone.&nbsp; Unlike emergency number services in many other countries, the 119 system in Japan only connects to fire or ambulance services.&nbsp; Police [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,59,42,86,37],"tags":[88,51,74,62,100,168,93,47],"class_list":["post-4886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japan","category-life-in-japan","category-nagoya-2","category-osaka","category-tokyo-2","tag-april","tag-hiroshima-city-2","tag-kobe-city","tag-login","tag-nagoya-city","tag-osaka-city","tag-september","tag-tokyo-city-2"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4886"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51694,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4886\/revisions\/51694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hrcjapan.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}