Mount Fuji in Japan has not exploded since 1707. However, this week, Japanese citizens got a glimpse into what a horrifying volcanic eruption would look like when the Tokyo Metropolitan Government released a series of AI-generated videos depicting this scenario.
The video was released as part of the Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Day Awareness Campaign.
Simulating what would happen if Fuji erupted violently today, the officials said the government would prepare 37 million people in metropolitan metropolitan areas for disaster scenarios that could unfold with little or no warning.
Video Details
The video depicts a swirl of smoke from a volcano before ash falls into central Tokyo, about 60 miles away.
The city is then covered in ashes within hours of the eruption. The video also shows that it will stop transport, destroy food and power sources, causing long-term respiratory problems.
“We need to arm our facts and prepare ourselves for disasters in our daily lives,” it said.
However, the Tokyo government said there were no signs of Fuji erupting.
“The simulation is designed to equip residents with the precise knowledge and preparatory measures they can take in the event of an emergency,” he explained.
Preparation or panic?
Officials claim that there are no signs of an imminent eruption, but the video triggered a mixed reaction. Some residents welcome wake-up calls.
Oki, who lives in Mishima city and has a clear view of Fuji, said he plans to buy emergency supplies soon. “Nature's power is so great that it might be better to scare us a little,” she pointed out.
Others expressed confusion and anxiety. “Are there any signs of an eruption?” asked Shinichiro Kariya, a 57-year-old member of the hospital team.
“Why do even Tokyo hear about 10 centimetres of ashes fall? I wonder why this is happening right now,” she continued.
Tokyo government officials have confirmed the campaign aimed at spreading awareness rather than warnings.
According to Naoya Sekiya, a risk communication expert at the University of Tokyo, such simulations are nothing new. The government has long modelled earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruption scenarios.
“The timing doesn't really make any sense,” he said.
Mount Fuji's dormant threat
Fuji, the highest peak in Japan, erupted every 30 years after the last eruption known as the Hoei eruption, and was bombarded with ashes across Edo. Scientists warn that Fuji remains classified as an active volcano despite centuries of silence.
Home to 111 active volcanoes, Japan sits straight in the “Ring of Fire” of the Pacific Ocean. Last year, Japanese meteorological agencies issued the first-ever “Megakoki Advisory,” following a powerful offshore tremor near Kyushu.
AI in disaster planning
AI is a modern twist on Japan's longstanding disaster preparedness culture. By visualizing the worst-case scenario, staff hopes to get residents to think essentially to stock supplies, known evacuation routes, and vigilance.
For some, realism is unsettling. For others, it is important to remind us that Japan's majestic, snowy symbols still have the power to rebuild lives in an instant.
