Why Does Japan Suffer Severe Typhoon Disasters? From the Ise Bay Typhoon to the Archives of Reiwa Era's Strongest Storms
Japan experiences an average of about three typhoon landfalls per year. The Ise Bay Typhoon, which claimed over 5,000 lives, spurred a revolution in Japan's disaster prevention system. This article reviews the archives of typhoons that severely impacted Japan, such as Jebi and Hagibis.
Japan: The "Final Stop" for Turning Typhoons
After moving to the western side of the subtropical high, most Western Pacific typhoons turn northeast. The Japanese archipelago lies directly across this turning path—with Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu acting like a catchment net. On average, about 11 typhoons approach and 3 make landfall in Japan annually.
Typhoons That Changed Japanese History
The Ise Bay Typhoon (1959) – A Watershed Moment for Disaster Prevention
Making landfall on the Kii Peninsula with a central pressure of approximately 930 hPa, the storm surge breached levees along the Ise Bay coast in Nagoya. With over 5,000 fatalities, it remains the most devastating meteorological disaster in post-war Japan. It directly led to the enactment of the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act in 1961, laying the foundation for Japan's modern disaster prevention system.
Serial Blows in the Reiwa Era
- Jebi (2018): One of the strongest typhoons to hit Japan in 25 years. The storm surge flooded runways at Kansai International Airport, and a tanker collided with and severed the access bridge, paralyzing the airport for several days.
- Faxai (2019): Small but intense. It caused massive power outages in Chiba Prefecture lasting more than two weeks, exposing the vulnerability of the power grid.
- Hagibis (2019): Caused "widespread flooding" in East Japan. Over 140 riverbanks burst overnight, shinkansen depots were submerged, and more than 100 people lost their lives.
Three Major Characteristics of Typhoon Disasters in Japan
- Storm Surges Are the Primary Killer: Bays such as Ise Bay, Tokyo Bay, and Osaka Bay are funnel-shaped, significantly amplifying storm surge effects.
- Mountainous Terrain Amplifies Rainfall: Warm, moist airflows on the eastern side of typhoons collide with mountain ranges, frequently breaking records for extreme rainfall.
- Fast-Moving After Turning: After changing direction, typhoons can move at speeds exceeding 50 km/h, resulting in rapid onset of wind and rain and a short window for defensive preparations.
Lessons from Japan's Typhoon Preparedness
- "Wide-Area Evacuation" Culture 48 Hours in Advance: Planned suspension of railway services (Keikaku Unkyu) has become a social consensus.
- Flood Inundation Maps Down to the Block Level: Every household can check the flood risk for their specific location.
- High Wind-Resistant Building Standards: Damage to buildings is limited during regular typhoons, with significant losses concentrated in extreme cases.
Tips for Chinese Tourists in Japan: If visiting Japan between August and October, please monitor typhoon information issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Railway suspensions are usually announced one day in advance, so allow buffer time in your itinerary.