Japan Meteorological Agency

Japan’s national agency responsible for meteorological, hydrological, seismological, and volcanic observations, forecasts, and warnings.

Weather forecasting: The process of predicting future atmospheric conditions from observations and models. The agency issues forecasts for Japan using observations, numerical models, and forecaster analysis.
Japan Meteorological Agency Meteorological Satellite Center: The JMA center responsible for processing and analyzing meteorological satellite observations. Satellite imagery gives forecasters broad, frequent views of clouds and storms over the western Pacific.
Tokyo Meteorological Observatory: The government observatory established in Tokyo in 1875 that became the foundation of Japan’s national weather service. JMA traces its institutional origins to this observatory and its early weather observations.
Japan Coast Guard: Japan’s maritime law-enforcement and safety agency, responsible for coastal surveillance and navigation support. It operates oceanographic observations and coordinates with JMA on tsunami and maritime hazards.
Tropical cyclone warning: An official alert about a tropical cyclone’s expected hazards and affected areas. JMA tracks typhoons and warns of destructive winds, heavy rain, and storm surges.
Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System: A JMA network of automated weather observation stations across Japan. AMeDAS supplies dense surface measurements that improve local monitoring and forecasts.
Hiroshi Nakamura (meteorologist): A Japanese meteorologist who led the Japan Meteorological Agency as director-general. His leadership is associated with the agency’s modernization of forecasting and international meteorological cooperation.
National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience: A Japanese research institute studying earthquakes, volcanoes, weather hazards, and disaster resilience. Its research and monitoring networks complement JMA’s operational observations and warnings.
Tsunami warning system: A network of observations and alerts designed to detect tsunamis and warn exposed communities. JMA estimates tsunami threats after earthquakes and distributes warnings and advisories.
Numerical weather prediction: Forecasting future atmospheric conditions by solving mathematical equations on computers. JMA runs numerical models to turn observations into forecasts and hazard guidance.

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