Japan Meteorological Agency

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) serves as a division within Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, dedicated to the scientific observation and research of natural phenomena. Officially formed on July 1, 1956, its roots in meteorological observation trace back to the 1870s with the establishment of the first weather stations in Japan. The agency's headquarters are situated at 3-6-9 Toranomon, Minato City, Tokyo.

The JMA's fundamental responsibilities include collecting and analyzing data across a range of scientific fields, such as meteorology, hydrology, seismology, and volcanology. It plays an essential role in safeguarding the public by providing timely weather forecasts, issuing critical warnings for volcanic activity, and operating the nation's Earthquake Early Warning system. The agency also functions as a designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the World Meteorological Organization, tasked with forecasting, naming, and disseminating alerts for tropical cyclones in the Northwestern Pacific region.

Employing advanced technologies, including supercomputers for numerical weather prediction (NWP), the JMA continuously works to enhance the accuracy of its forecasts. This is particularly important for predicting severe weather events like typhoons and torrential rains. In March 2024, the agency deployed a new supercomputer system aimed at improving forecast precision, especially for linear precipitation zones which have become more prevalent due to climate change.

The JMA's website attracts a significant volume of traffic, with approximately 7.9 billion hits annually. In 2020, the agency introduced advertisements on its website, a move that generated some criticism, particularly as ads appeared on pages relevant to public safety during emergencies. This decision was partly attributed to budget constraints, with web advertising introduced as a method for generating income. [edit]