In case of an emergency in Japan, being able to communicate with the emergency dispatcher can literally be a life-saver.

The emergency operator staff, which can be reached by dialing 119, has English-speaking staff available. In addition, the Tokyo Metropolitan Health & Medical Information Center offers an emergency interpretation service with English-speaking doctors at (03) 5285-8185. Their website, himawari.tokyo-hpc.or.jp, contains an excellent, comprehensive "Guide to Emergency Medical Treatment in Tokyo".

Here's how to deal with emergency calls in Japan.

  In case of emergency, dial 119 (may not work from cell phones);

  In case of fire, say: KAJI DESU;

  To call an ambulance, say: KYUU-KYUU DESU;

  Do not hang up until the dispatcher understands your address and telephone number;

  Send someone out to the nearest major intersection to meet the ambulance or fire truck.

Dispatcher: SHOU BOU CHOU... KAJI DESU KA? KYUU KYUU DESU KA? (Fire department... Fire or ambulance?)
Caller: KYUU KYUU DESU. (Ambulance)
Dispatcher: DOU SHIMASHITA KA? (What happened?)
Caller: (see vocabulary below)

Telephone number is...	DENWA BANGO WA (number)... DESU.
My name is...	WATASHI NO NAMAE WA (name)... DESU.

Bleeding	SHUKKETSU DESU
Broken bone	KOSSETSU DESU
Burn	HIDOI YAKEDO DESU
Difficulty breathing	KOKYUU KONNAN DESU
Convulsions	KEIREN DESU
Chest pains	MUNE GA TAIHEN KURUSHII DESU
High fever	KOU NETSU DESU
Injury	KEGA DESU
Poison	DOKUBUTSU DESU
Poison gas	DOKU GASU DESU
Sick	BYOUKI DESU
Unconscious	ISHIKI FUMEI DESU

The emergency service people need to know how to locate you in order to help. The dispatcher may say JU-SHO WA? (or) NANI-KU, NANI- MACHI, NAN-BAN DESU KA?, asking "What is your address?"

For example, the address of the American Embassy in English is: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo

In Japanese, this is reversed, and best understood, as follows: Tokyo-to, Minato-ku, Akasaka itt-chome juu no go.

Front	MAE
Behind	URA
Diagonally in Front	NANA ME MAE
Next To	TONARI
Intersection	Koosaten

Since many Japanese streets do not bear names and house/building numbers are not consecutive, it is very important that you learn how to give adequate directions to your residence in case you need to explain it to a dispatcher, usually guiding them by way of major landmarks.

One of the best tests to determine if you have the capability to guide someone to your residence is being able to order a taxicab, and not from a company which has your information already programmed into its computer.

Japanese neighbors are a great source of information - ask them to tell you, word by word, how they direct people to their residences. Practice these directions on a regular basis and keep a cheat sheet by your telephone for family, babysitters, or friends to use in case of need.

Assuming you are not calling from a cell phone, just stay on the line. Emergency operators at the fire department in most major urban centers have the ability to trace calls to your location.

You can call an ambulance anytime and anywhere in Japan by simply dialing 119 (may not work from cell phones). Ambulances operate free while medical expenses are charged.

Ambulance personnel transfer the patient to the nearest, most suitable medical center depending on the symptoms and condition of the patient as well as on the situation and location. The patient may not therefore be taken to the hospital of his or her choice.

To call an ambulance from a public phone, no coins nor telephone cards are needed if the public phone has an emergency call button (exceptions include red and pink phones, which operate only with 10 yen coins). Pick up the receiver, press the red emergency call button and dial 119. Newer public phones do not have an emergency call button, but do allow you to call for help by simply dialing 119.

Dialing direct to the U.S. from Japan:

1) First dial Japan’s International Access Code (dial 010)
2) Then dial the U.S. Country Code, Area Code, and local phone number: dial 1, then the 3-digit Area Code, and 7-digit Phone Number.


Example: dial 010 +1+202-555-1234
Intl Access Code + U.S. Country Code + U.S. Phone Number

Dialing Japan from the U.S.:

1) First dial the International Access Code in the U.S. (dial 011)
2) Then dial the Japan Country Code, the City Code (delete the first zero), and the local phone number.


Example (a): the phone number in Tokyo is 03-3224-9999; from a phone in the U.S., dial 011 + 81 (Japan Country Code) + 3 (City Code) + 3224-9999 (local phone number). Do not dial the “0” in the “03” when dialing internationally.

Example (b): the cell phone number in Tokyo is 080-1234-5678; from a phone in the U.S., dial 011 + 81 (Japan Country Code) + 80-1234-5678. All Japanese cell phones have 090 or 080 as the first three digits, when dialing internationally do not dial the first “0”.

Calling Collect from Japan to the U.S.:

1) First dial the toll-free, KDDI 24 hour International telephone support number, 0120-977-097.
2) Press star and then 5 for English assistance.
3) Give the operator the U.S. number you want to call and let them know you want to call collect. She will call the person at that number and ask if he or she will accept your call.
4) If they do, you will be connected. Charges for collect calls from Japan to the U.S are set by each U.S. telephone company.
* For more information on KDDI Operator-Assisted Calls please refer to the KDDI website.