Starting at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, Ashiya City will apparently conduct a nationwide information transmission test of the J-Alert system. A test announcement will be broadcast from outdoor disaster-prevention loudspeakers throughout the city.
On November 5, there was an earthquake early-warning drill and a Hyogo Prefecture-wide tsunami evacuation drill, and the next one is a J-Alert drill. They’re happening in quick succession, but this is a different drill, so don’t be alarmed on the 11th.
Screenshot from the official Ashiya City website
Nationwide J-Alert Information Transmission Test
When will it take place?
11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026
This will be the third of four tests held each year. Here’s what the annual schedule looks like:
| Test | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| 1st | June 3 (canceled) → Held on the backup date of July 1 |
| 2nd | August 26 (completed) |
| 3rd | 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11 ← This time |
| 4th | February 3, 2027 |
Where will the announcement be broadcast?
It will be broadcast throughout the city via outdoor disaster-prevention loudspeakers at 45 locations, individual receivers installed at public facilities and other locations, and emergency alert radios.
It may be difficult to hear depending on the weather, such as rain and wind, as well as the direction and distance of the loudspeakers and whether you are indoors.
What will the announcement say?
Here it is:
♪ (Ascending chime) ♪
【This is a J-Alert test.】×3
This is Disaster Prevention Ashiya.
♪ (Descending chime) ♪
One slightly curious detail involves the emergency alert radios. Because J-Alert emergency information is broadcast on the same frequency as Nishinomiya City, radios in Ashiya City will apparently announce it as “Disaster Prevention Nishinomiya City.” It may sound odd, but that’s simply how the system works.
Also, no emergency alert emails (Area Mail) will be sent during this test, so your smartphone will not sound.
What to do on the day
The drill is intended to give everyone an opportunity to review the actions they should take to stay safe in the event of a ballistic missile alert or similar emergency.
- If you are outdoors…Take shelter inside a nearby building or underground.
- If there are no buildings nearby…Hide behind an object, or lie flat on the ground and protect your head.
- If you are indoors…Move away from windows or into a room without windows.
Even taking just one minute at 11:00 to think about what you would do could make the exercise feel much more like a real drill.
Other Information
The test may be canceled at short notice due to the day’s weather, missile alerts, or other circumstances. Any cancellation will be announced on the city website, the Ashiya Disaster Prevention Portal, and the Hyogo Disaster Prevention Network.
If you would like to hear the announcement again, it will apparently be available through the Ashiya Disaster Prevention Portal or the automated telephone service at 050-5527-2580 (call charges apply).
For inquiries, contact the Disaster Prevention Measures Section, Disaster Prevention and Safety Division, Urban Infrastructure Office, Urban Policy Department, Ashiya City, at 0797-38-2093.
In Closing
Following the alert on November 5, there will be another one on the 11th. They’re coming close together, but rest assured that this one is only a drill. It’s an important exercise to help everyone prepare for an actual emergency, so if you hear the chime at 11:00, take a moment to listen. Your smartphone won’t sound, though, so the test may be over before you even notice it.
芦屋の防災無線、あなたの家ではちゃんと聞こえる？
