The Japanese Meteorological Agency has officially named a recent seismic event as the "Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake". Occurring in Kumamoto, a city on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, this earthquake has drawn attention to the country's constant tussle with seismological disasters. The 'Reiwa 8' designation corresponds to the year in the Japanese imperial era when the quake happened.

Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' - an arc of intense seismic activity. The nation has a well-structured disaster response system and naming an earthquake is part of their process that helps track and address the impacts of these disasters. People in Japan typically attach great importance to such announcements as they aid in societal memory of the event, particularly for the victims, authorities, and aid providers.

In comparison, in the U.S or EU, earthquakes do not carry specific names, but are often referred to by the area in which they occur along with the year. However, a comparable practice is seen in how they name catastrophic storms or hurricanes. Naming natural disasters aids in increasing public awareness and rallying support for victims.