110 Emergency Call Day

What Is 110 Emergency Call Day?

Every January 10th is "110 Emergency Call Day" in Japan. The National Police Agency established this day in 1985 to promote the proper and appropriate use of 110 — Japan's equivalent of 911 — as a police emergency number. The date was chosen because "1-10" can be read as "one-ten," matching the digits of the emergency number itself. Across Japan, police stations hold open-house events at their communications centers and run public awareness campaigns on when and how to call 110 correctly.

The History of 110: Japan's Emergency Number

Japan's 110 emergency line was introduced in 1948 in six major cities including Tokyo and Osaka, and was expanded nationwide by 1954. Today, calls to 110 are routed to a prefectural police communications center, where trained dispatchers assess the situation and coordinate the fastest possible police response. The system handles not only crimes in progress but also traffic accidents, missing persons, and other urgent situations.

The Problem of Non-Emergency Calls

A persistent challenge facing the 110 system is the high volume of non-emergency calls — inquiries about lost property, noise complaints between neighbors, or simple requests for directions. When these calls tie up the line, genuine emergencies may face delays. January 10th is a reminder that 110 is a lifeline reserved for genuine crises, and that non-urgent matters should be directed to the police's general consultation number (♯9110 in Japan).

How to Use 110 Correctly

When calling 110, the dispatcher will ask: "Police or ambulance?" — answer "Police." Then calmly provide: (1) What happened, (2) Where it is happening (address or landmark), (3) Your name and contact number. Speaking clearly and concisely helps police respond faster. It is also important to know that making a prank call to 110 is a criminal offense in Japan.

Fun Facts About 110

• Simultaneous call handling: Each prefectural communications center can receive hundreds of calls at once, with dispatchers prioritizing by urgency in real time.
• 110 by text: Since 2019, Japan has allowed emergency reports via SMS for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• One-day police chiefs: On January 10th, many police stations invite local figures as honorary one-day chiefs to raise public awareness of police services.
• The number behind the number: Japan also has 119 for fire and ambulance, and 118 for the Japan Coast Guard — all distinct from 110 for police.

A Number That Connects You to Safety

January 10th is an opportunity to reflect on the safety net that 110 provides — and on each person's responsibility to use it wisely. Knowing the right number to call and when to call it is a small but powerful form of civic preparedness that can save lives.