The Japan Tsunami Alert That Has the World Holding Its Breath: My Heart’s With the Coast Tonight 
December 8, 2025
At 11:15 p.m. Japan time (9:15 a.m. ET), a 7.6-magnitude earthquake slammed the seafloor about 80 km off Aomori Prefecture. The shaking hit upper 6 on Japan’s intensity scale — that’s “you can’t even stand up” level. Minutes later, tsunami warnings lit up the entire northeast coast: Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate. They were bracing for waves up to 3 meters (10 ft).
The first waves came fast — 20–70 cm in some ports, but that’s still enough to flood streets and sweep cars away in the pitch-black winter night. Over 90,000 people fled to evacuation centers, some carrying nothing but their kids and the clothes on their backs. I watched livestreams of headlights snaking up mountains in the freezing cold… I’m crying again typing this.
No massive death toll like 2011 (thank God), but there are fires burning in Aomori, injuries, collapsed houses, and the aftershocks just won’t stop. Japan is still traumatized from Tohoku — this felt like the earth saying “remember me?”
The warnings have been downgraded to advisories now (Tuesday morning Japan time), and there’s no threat to Hawaii or the US West Coast. But the fear? That doesn’t downgrade.
If you’re safe right now, hug someone. Call your people. And if your heart is screaming to help like mine is, here are 100% verified places you can donate to RIGHT NOW:
Japan Red Cross Society – Emergency Relief
Save the Children Japan – Protecting Kids in Crisis
GlobalGiving Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Fund
Peace Winds Japan – Local Search & Rescue Teams
Even $5 becomes a hot meal, a blanket, or diapers for a baby who just lost everything tonight.
Can’t donate? Just share this post. That’s help too 
Lighting every candle I own for the fishing villages, the evac centers, and every scared heart on that coastline right now. Japan, we’re holding you so tight from across the world.
Stay safe. Love hard. The ocean reminded us how fast everything can change.
— Queen Minx Amuntikhet
#JapanEarthquake #TsunamiWarning #PrayForJapan