Source: "Flags of Japan and the NHK" by zscout370 is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0.

NHK Announcer Goes Off Script to Offer Comfort after Earthquake

On the night of February 13, 2021, an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 6.0 on the Richter scale struck Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures.

This caused massive power and water outages in many areas. There were also reports of injuries.

The earthquake, which instantly brought back memories of the Great East Japan Earthquake, must have made the victims anxious.

Praise for Yōji Itoi's words

NHK announcer Yōji Itoi, who appeared on the news the day after the earthquake, sent a message to the earthquake victims.

At the beginning of the 5 a.m. broadcast, Mr. Itoi said the following words, as quoted by NHK.

Good morning, it's five o'clock.

I'm sure you are all tired. Some of you could hardly sleep, and some of you woke up early.

It's only about an hour until sunrise, so please stay in a safe place and listen to the latest information, even if you have to close your eyes for a while.

At the beginning of the program, in a calming tone, Mr. Itoi told the time until sunrise, and expressed his concern for all those who made it through an anxious night.

It must have been something that came from Mr. Itoi himself, not from the teleprompter.

He empathized with those in Eastern Japan who had been anxiously waiting for dawn and spoke warmly to them.

Reactions Across the Web

Mr. Itoi's words have become a hot topic on the Internet, with many people praising him.

When I heard Mr. Itoi's words, I was able to relax and take a deep breath. Thank you very much.
I was really moved. I was really touched by his kind words, and I felt connected to all of the earthquake victims.
The warm words were so heartfelt that I almost cried. It was truly an incredible response.

It’s really heart-warming when people take a moment to show in their busy lives to express their true feelings and show their humanity.

Many people benefited from Mr. Itoi’s warm words.

By - Mujo.