Last Sunday, the Tokyo Disaster Prevention Division released a simulation generated with artificial intelligence showing the devastating effects that an eruption of Mount Fuji would have on the Japanese capital.
The video is part of a citizen preparedness strategy for an event that, while not imminent, is considered possible by the authorities.
A scenario of real-time chaos: ash, darkness, and urban collapse
The simulation shows how Tokyo would be covered in volcanic ash in just two hours.
The video begins with a woman on a busy street receiving an alert on her phone: Mount Fuji has erupted.
The narration warns that “the moment can arrive without prior notice,” while images of smoke columns and ash advancing towards Tokyo unfold, plunging the city into daytime darkness.
Mount Fuji and the Ring of Fire: a looming threat
Japan is home to 111 active volcanoes and faces an 80% probability of a major earthquake in the next 30 years.
Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Japan is one of the countries with the highest seismic and volcanic activity in the world.
The Mount Fuji, which historically erupted every 30 years, has been inactive for 318 years since the Hoei eruption of 1707.
In January, authorities raised the alert level after estimating an 80% probability of a severe earthquake in the Nankai Trough region in the next three decades.
The eruption of Mount Fuji was created with AI
Estimated Impact: millions of cubic meters of ash and multimillion-dollar losses
The eruption could paralyze transportation, collapse buildings, and affect the supply of essential goods.
According to official calculations, a large-scale eruption of Fuji would generate 1.7 billion cubic meters of volcanic ash, of which 490 million would accumulate on urban infrastructure.
The economic losses could exceed 2.5 trillion yen (about $15.53 billion), affecting:
Wooden buildings with low load capacity
Rail transportation
Electricity supply
Distribution of food and essential products
Divided Reactions: between citizen concern and criticism of the government approach
The initiative sparked mixed opinions on social media. While some users expressed fear of potential logistical chaos, others questioned the tone of the video, calling it “alarmist” and promoting an “unnecessary sense of crisis.”
Domestic Preparedness: official recommendations and practical challenges
The simulation includes scenes of a family preparing pantries with non-perishable foods and first aid kits. Authorities recommend residents near Fuji to maintain essential supplies for at least 14 days.
However, some citizens point out logistical difficulties, especially during Japanese summers when high temperatures exacerbate the effects of a possible power outage.
Technology, prevention, and risk culture: a bet on urban resilience
The simulation aims to raise collective awareness of high-impact natural phenomena.
Although the video does not aim to predict a specific event, it seeks to instill a culture of preparedness in a society that coexists with seismic and volcanic risks.
In this sense, the initiative is part of a Japanese tradition of disaster planning, where technology and citizen education combine to strengthen urban resilience.
AloJapan.com