Up here in Hokkaido typhoon number 26 left us relatively unscathed (except for a record early snow fall of 30cm in the east of the island), but further south around Tokyo, people weren't so lucky. The small volcanic island of Oshima, some 120 kms south of Tokyo, was the worst affected. Torrential rainfall triggered a pair of huge mudslides that engulfed a residential district killing 28 and leaving another 18 still unaccounted for. And unfortunately there is more of the same to come. Typhoon number 27 formed a few days ago and has turned into another powerful storm, slowly making its way northeast towards the Japanese mainland. It is due to cross over Okinawa on Thursday before doglegging north east and heading across western Japan on Friday. And guess who is due to fly into western Japan on Thursday evening for this year's JALT conference in Kobe? And if that isn't enough metrological excitement for one week, coming right behind it is typhoon number 28.
I will probably pack a lifejacket.
Thanks for that Gerald Fleming
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