expression, kuru verb (irregular)
natural disasters strike when you least expect them
Proverb warning that people become complacent after a disaster, only to be caught off guard by the next one. Often used to remind people to stay prepared.
「天災は忘れた頃にやってくる」と言うから、防災グッズを常に備えておこう。
They say 'natural disasters strike when you've forgotten about them,' so let's always keep emergency supplies ready.
Standard kanji spelling of the proverb.
Variant with ころ in kana; both spellings are used.
A proverb about the value of preparation, while 天災は忘れた頃にやってくる specifically warns about the unpredictability of natural disasters.
A well-known Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is often attributed to the physicist Torahiko Terada, who emphasized the importance of disaster preparedness.