実は、かなりの確率で当てられるそうです。
「震度感覚」は経験からくるもの
日本では子どものころから繰り返し地震を経験します。学校や家庭で「今のは震度3くらいだったね」「今回は震度5弱だって」などと話すのは日常のこと。そのため、多くの人が体感と震度の関係を自然に身につけているのです。
たとえば…
- 震度1～2：軽い揺れ。立っていればわかるけど、座っていると気づかないことも。
- 震度3：明確に揺れを感じる。電灯が揺れる。SNSで「今、揺れたよね？」という投稿が増えるレベル。
- 震度4：物がカタカタと音を立てる。不安を感じ始める人も。
- 震度5弱以上：本格的な地震対策を思い出し、避難を意識する揺れ。棚から物が落ちたりする。
実際に当たるの？
もちろん、全員が正確に言い当てられるわけではありません。しかしSNSを見ていると、揺れの直後に「たぶん震度4」と書いて、その後の気象庁の発表でも実際に「震度4」だったというようなケースが多々あります。
これは、日本の気象庁が発表する震度と、人々の体感との間にある程度の一致があるということです。
地震が文化になる国、日本
海外の方にとっては、地震が頻繁に起こる国に住むということ自体が信じられないかもしれません。しかし、日本では「地震があるのが前提」の生活があり、建物も防災も、教育もそれを前提にしています。
そしてその生活の中で、日本人の多くは「揺れのレベル＝震度」という独自の感覚を身につけているのです。
おわりに
日本で地震を感じたとき、隣の人がすぐに「今のは震度3くらいかな」と言っても驚かないでください。それは長年の経験から生まれた“地震センス”とも言えるものです。
それでは、また次回のJapanese-Onlineニュースレターでお会いしましょう！
ご意見・ご感想もぜひお寄せください。
Can Japanese People Tell the Seismic Intensity (Shindo) Just by Feeling an Earthquake?
One of the things Japan is most well-known for is being an earthquake-prone country. So, when Japanese people feel an earthquake, can they instantly say, "Oh, that was a Shindo 4," accurately guessing the seismic intensity (Shindo)?
The truth is, many Japanese people are pretty accurate guessers.
"Shindo Sense" Comes from Experience
In Japan, people experience earthquakes frequently throughout their entire lives. It's common at schools or home to hear people say, "That felt like a Shindo 3," or "It was Shindo 5-lower this time." Because of this, many people naturally develop an understanding of the relationship between their physical sensations and seismic intensity.
For example, here's how it generally feels:
- Shindo 1-2: Very light shaking. You might notice it if you're standing, but you might not if you're sitting.
- Shindo 3: Noticeable shaking. Lights might sway. This is when you'll see more posts on social media asking, "Did you just feel that?"
- Shindo 4: Objects start to rattle. Some people begin to feel uneasy.
- Shindo 5-lower and above: Strong shaking that reminds people to think seriously about disaster response and consider evacuation. Objects might fall from shelves.
Through these repeated experiences, many Japanese people can instinctively rate their earthquake experiences by saying, "This feels like Shindo X."
Are People's Guesses Actually Accurate?
Of course, not everyone gets it exactly right every time. However, if you look at social media, it's not uncommon to see someone post "probably Shindo 4" right after a tremor, and later it turns out that the Japan Meteorological Agency also reported it as Shindo 4.
This indicates there’s a reasonably strong correlation between the Japan Meteorological Agency’s Shindo announcement and people’s physical sensations. by the Japan Meteorological Agency and people's physical sensations.
A Country Where Earthquakes Are Part of the Culture
For people outside of Japan, it might be hard to imagine living in a country where earthquakes happen so frequently. However, in Japan, the assumption that earthquakes will occur shapes daily life, so they design building construction, disaster preparedness, and education with this in mind.
Within this lifestyle, many Japanese people have developed a unique sense of “Shindo” (level of shaking).
In Closing
If you ever feel an earthquake in Japan and the person next to you immediately says, “That was probably a Shindo 3,” don’t be surprised. It’s a kind of “earthquake instinct” that comes from years of lived experience.
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