The Maritime hotline number, 118

As expats, we learn pretty quickly that 119 is the emergency phone number. In my home country, there is only one number for all emergencies. With the result, I was quite surprised when, after a few years here, I learned that there is actually a separate number for police related emergencies in Japan. And that is 110. 

What I only learned in recent years is that there is a completely separate number for maritime related emergencies! In my defense, I don't currently live near the coast. Saitama Prefecture is completely landlocked. However, I did live near the coast on two separate occasions in the past. Once in Yokohama (Kanagawa) and once in Mito (Ibaraki).

In order to make people more aware of the maritime hotline, today and January 18th annually is 118 Day 118番の日, because 118 is the maritime emergency number. As today is January 18th, written 1/18 in short in Japan, it is a good way to make an easy to associate connection in order to remember the number. You use the 118 number for such things as to report marine accidents, suspicious vessels, and / or smuggling.