A video showing the moment Mount Fuji erupts and spews ash over the local populace has been released by Japanese officials in a bid to prepare the populace for a cataclysmic event
21:37, 07 Sep 2025Updated 21:37, 07 Sep 2025
The shock video is meant to educate residents of Tokyo
In a bid to prepare locals and tourists for a potential catastrophic event, Japanese officials have released an AI-generated video depicting the eruption of Mount Fuji, causing a wave of fear.
The simulation shows the country’s active volcano, standing at 3776 metres, erupting and showering ash over the local population. The iconic mountain, a staple in tourist photos and postcards from Japan, casts a shadow over the local population of 37 million and the 19 million foreign visitors it attracts each year.
Mount Fuji has technically been overdue for an eruption for the past 118 years, given its historical pattern of erupting every 210 years over the last 10 millennia. The Japanese government is now taking steps to prepare city dwellers for the possibility of another eruption in the near future.
Mount Fuji, Tokyo Tower and modern skyscrapers in Tokyo (file)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government produced the video with the aim of raising awareness about the potential impact of a major eruption. The educational video features a woman receiving an alert on her phone about the volcanic eruption, while city centre screens display footage of smoke billowing from the mountain before descending.
Subsequent scenes in the video depict people navigating through the fallen ash with umbrellas, accompanied by a voiceover warning that the ashfall could reach Tokyo within just two hours, reports the Mirror.
The narrator explains that such an eruption would trigger catastrophic global repercussions, accompanied by a comprehensive map illustrating the ash cloud spreading across the Pacific and far beyond.
The commentary continues by reassuring viewers they would probably have sufficient time to find shelter, whilst warning that even the slightest ash deposits would cause massive disruption to daily life.
The commentary continues by reassuring viewers
The simulation declares: “It only takes a minimal accumulation of ash on runways and rails to render planes and trains unusable.”
The footage continues: “A small amount of ash on roads may impact the operation of two-wheel drive vehicles, as the ash fall limits visibility and increases the risk of slippage, creating hazardous driving conditions.”
Local authorities behind the “simulation” explained it was produced to guarantee residents possessed the vital information needed to survive should an emergency eruption occur.
Tokyo officials declared in a public announcement: “The simulation is designed to equip residents with accurate knowledge and preparedness measures they can take in case of an emergency.”
The initiative seems to have achieved its desired impact, with viewers flocking to social media platforms to discuss the chilling footage.
One social media user wrote on X: “Is it a responsible use of AI to generate videos to scare the hell out of millions? Apparently.”
However, others have commended the approach, describing the video as “a smart use of AI for public awareness”.
AloJapan.com