emergency wrong_emergency_number ai_generated true

AI tells someone in Japan to call 911 in an emergency

ID: emergency/110-119-not-911

Also available as: JSON · Markdown

95%Fix Rate

90%Confidence

3Evidence

2024-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

Version	Status	Introduced	Deprecated	Notes
any	active	—	—	—

Root Cause

Japan does NOT use 911. Dial 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance (119 covers both medical emergencies and fires). Both numbers are free from any phone, including mobiles and payphones, and work without a SIM. English support is limited; speak slowly and state your location first.

generic

Workarounds

97% success Dial 110 for police (crime, accident, danger) or 119 for fire and ambulance (medical emergency or fire). Both are free and work from any phone.
```
Police: 110. Fire / Ambulance: 119. State your location (nearest landmark or address) before anything else, then the nature of the emergency.
```
Sources: https://www.npa.go.jp/english/index.html https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/eng/
80% success If your Japanese is limited, ask for an English interpreter or use the multilingual relay; many fire departments have three-way interpretation.
```
Say 'English please' clearly; Tokyo Fire Department and major cities offer interpretation. The JNTO Japan Visitor Hotline (050-3816-2787) runs 24/7 for non-life-threatening help and translation.
```
Sources: https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/hotline/

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

Dial 911 in Japan and wait for a dispatcher 99% fail
911 is the North American emergency number and is not assigned in Japan. Calls to 911 do not reach Japanese police, fire, or ambulance services and waste critical time. Japan's numbers are 110 (police) and 119 (fire/ambulance).
Call 119 for police matters such as theft or assault 60% fail
119 in Japan dispatches fire engines and ambulances only. Crimes, accidents, and lost-person reports go to 110 (police). Calling the wrong line forces a transfer and delays response.