The Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁 Kishōchō) or JMA, is the Japanese government's weather service. Charged with gathering and reporting weather data and forecasts in Japan, it is a semi-autonomous part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It is also responsible for observation and warning of earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.[1]
Headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, the agency has six regional administrative offices. Four Marine Observatories, five auxiliary facilities, four Aviation Weather Service Centers and 47 Local Meteorological Observatories are also used to gather data, supplemented by weather satellites and research centers.[1]
In June 1988, the World Meteorological Organization designated the JMA as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center. In July 1989, the Tokyo - Typhoon Center was established within the JMA, which dealt with the forecasting and dissemination of active tropical cyclones, as well as preparing a summary of each year's cyclone activity.[2]
The JMA also operates the Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for the Northwestern Pacific and issues advisories on tropical cyclones in the area.
The JMA has 627 observation points across the nation that measure seismic intensity.[3] A 24-hour office monitors the Earthquake Phenomena Observation System which is used to track and report seismic activity throughout Japan.[4]
The Agency is represented on the national Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction.[5]