On what date is World Tsunami Awareness Day observed each year?

World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed each year on 5 November.

The United Nations designated the date in December 2015 to promote tsunami preparedness, early-warning systems, and public awareness. It was established at Japan’s suggestion, reflecting the country’s long experience with tsunami hazards and disaster education.

The date also recalls the Japanese story of Hamaguchi Goryō, who reportedly burned rice sheaves in 1854 to warn villagers that a tsunami was approaching after the Nankai earthquake. His action helped guide people to safety in the village of Hiro.

The day is sometimes confused with dates associated with major disasters, including 26 December, when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami occurred, or 11 March, the date of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. World Tsunami Awareness Day is an annual preparedness observance, not a memorial date tied to one catastrophe.