Japan Weather Agency Warns of Disasters as Typhoon Dujuan Heads Toward Tokyo

Japan's weather agency warned residents across wide areas of the country to prepare for potentially dangerous weather as Typhoon Dujuan moved toward eastern Japan, with the storm expected to approach the Tokyo region during the country's five-day holiday period.

The Japan Meteorological Agency, or JMA, urged people to remain alert for landslides, flooding and other rain-related disasters as the large typhoon moved northward over the Pacific. The storm was expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of eastern and central Japan.

The warning was particularly significant for the Kanto region, which includes Tokyo, as well as the Izu Islands, the Tokai region and parts of the Pacific coast of Tohoku. Forecasters warned that rainfall could begin increasing before the centre of the typhoon reached its closest point to the Japanese mainland.

Typhoon Dujuan Moves Toward Eastern Japan

Typhoon Dujuan was the 25th typhoon of the year and had been moving northward after approaching Japan's Ogasawara island chain. By the weekend, the storm was positioned south of Japan and was expected to continue moving toward the Kanto region.

The JMA said Dujuan could approach the Izu Islands and the Kanto region between Monday afternoon and early Tuesday morning before moving away toward the Pacific waters east of the Tohoku region.

At the time of the warning, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 metres per second and maximum gusts of up to 50 metres per second. Its central atmospheric pressure was 970 hectopascals as it moved northward over waters south of the Tokai region.

The forecast track meant that the storm did not necessarily have to pass directly over Tokyo to create dangerous conditions in the capital and surrounding areas. Heavy rain, strong winds and coastal conditions can affect a much wider area than the centre of a typhoon.

Heavy Rain Could Begin Before the Typhoon Arrives

One of the concerns highlighted by Japanese forecasters was that rainfall could begin increasing before the main part of the storm arrived. Thick clouds to the north of Dujuan were expected to produce rain ahead of the typhoon itself.

JMA forecaster Yoshikazu Yano warned that this could increase cumulative rainfall totals. That is important because the danger from a typhoon is not determined solely by the strongest winds or the point where the storm makes its closest approach.

Rain falling over several hours can saturate the ground and increase the risk of landslides, while heavy rainfall can cause rivers to rise and flooding to occur in low-lying areas.

The agency therefore urged people to pay attention to weather information before the typhoon reached its closest point to Japan rather than waiting until conditions had already deteriorated.

Landslides and Flooding Among Main Concerns

The JMA warned that landslides and flooding could become serious problems as the storm approached. The risk was particularly relevant in areas where heavy rain had already fallen or where additional rainfall could quickly overwhelm drainage systems and rivers.

Japan's mountainous terrain makes landslides a recurring danger during periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall. When the ground becomes saturated, slopes can become unstable, potentially sending mud, rocks and other debris downhill.

Flooding can also occur rapidly in urban areas when rainfall exceeds the capacity of drainage systems. Low-lying locations and areas near rivers can be especially vulnerable when large amounts of rain fall over a short period.

The combination of heavy rain and strong winds also creates the potential for wider disruption. Fallen trees, damaged infrastructure and flooding can affect roads and railways even when a typhoon does not make a direct landfall in a particular city.

Tokyo and the Kanto Region on Alert

Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto region were among the areas being closely monitored because of the storm's expected path. The Kanto region contains one of the world's largest metropolitan populations, meaning that severe weather can have consequences for millions of people and for a huge transport network.

The weather agency warned that public transportation could be disrupted as the typhoon approached. Heavy rain and strong winds can lead railway operators to reduce services, suspend operations or cancel trains when conditions become unsafe.

Road travel can also be affected by flooding, fallen trees and strong winds. Highways and other major roads may be closed temporarily when authorities determine that conditions pose a danger to drivers.

For people travelling through Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures, the storm therefore presented a risk of delays and cancellations even if the typhoon's centre remained offshore.

Five-Day Holiday Adds to Transport Concerns

The timing of Typhoon Dujuan was another concern because the storm was approaching during a five-day holiday period in Japan. The holiday, extending through Wednesday, was expected to bring increased travel as people took trips or returned to their hometowns.

The JMA advised people with leisure plans or journeys during the holiday to remain flexible and consider changing their plans depending on the weather situation.

The warning reflected the possibility that transportation disruptions could make journeys more difficult even outside the areas directly affected by the strongest weather.

When a major storm approaches Japan, disruption can spread through the national transport network. A railway closure in one region can affect trains travelling much farther away, while airport and highway disruptions can create additional delays for travellers.

For visitors travelling around Japan during the holiday, checking railway, airline and local government information was therefore particularly important as the typhoon approached.

Strong Winds and High Waves Expected

Heavy rain was not the only threat associated with Dujuan. The JMA also warned of strong winds and high waves along affected coastal areas.

The storm's maximum gusts were forecast to reach 50 metres per second at the time of the weekend warning. Such winds can make outdoor conditions dangerous and can cause damage to structures, trees and other objects.

Coastal areas faced additional risks from high waves and rough seas. The agency specifically urged caution in the Izu Islands and along parts of the Pacific coast of eastern and central Japan.

Residents and visitors in coastal areas were therefore advised to follow local warnings and avoid unnecessary exposure to dangerous conditions as the storm approached.

The Izu Islands Face Particular Exposure

The Izu Islands were among the areas receiving particular attention from forecasters because of their position south of Tokyo and their exposure to the Pacific Ocean.

The islands can experience severe weather when typhoons move through the waters south of the Japanese mainland. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and large waves can cause significant disruption to transport and daily life in island communities.

The JMA was therefore urging residents across the islands to remain vigilant as Dujuan moved northward. The storm's movement also meant that conditions could change relatively quickly as the centre approached.

For people on the islands, monitoring official forecasts was especially important because ferry and air services can be suspended when wind and wave conditions become unsafe.

Dujuan Expected to Move Away After Passing Japan

Although the immediate focus was on the storm's approach to eastern Japan, forecasts indicated that Dujuan would not remain over the region for an extended period.

The typhoon was expected to move away from Japan toward waters east of Tohoku from Monday night. It was then forecast to weaken and transform into an extratropical cyclone by Tuesday afternoon.

That transition does not necessarily mean that all dangerous weather ends immediately. Even as a tropical cyclone loses its characteristics, strong winds and heavy rain associated with the wider weather system can continue to affect parts of Japan.

Authorities therefore continued to advise people to monitor the latest information rather than assuming that conditions would immediately return to normal once the centre of the typhoon had passed.

Japan's Typhoon Season Continues

Dujuan was the 25th typhoon of the year, placing the storm within what has been an active period of tropical weather affecting Japan and the wider western Pacific.

Japan regularly experiences typhoons between summer and autumn, and the storms can affect the country in different ways depending on their tracks. Some pass offshore while bringing heavy rain and strong winds, while others make landfall and cause more concentrated damage.

The country's weather authorities maintain detailed monitoring systems for approaching storms and regularly update forecasts as new observations become available. The precise track of a typhoon can change as the system moves, making later forecasts particularly important.

For that reason, the JMA's warnings were focused not only on the expected path of Dujuan but also on the potential consequences of rainfall, winds, waves and flooding across a broad area.

Residents Urged to Prepare Before Conditions Worsen

The main message from the weather agency was for people to prepare before the worst weather arrived. Waiting until heavy rain and strong winds are already affecting an area can make it more difficult and dangerous to travel or seek shelter.

People living in areas vulnerable to landslides or flooding were encouraged to monitor local warnings and be ready to follow evacuation advice from municipal authorities if necessary.

The same precautions applied to people planning journeys during the holiday period. With the possibility of transport disruption, travellers were advised to remain flexible and reconsider plans if weather conditions deteriorated.

The approaching storm was a reminder that a typhoon's impact can extend well beyond the point where its centre passes. Rainfall can begin in advance, rivers can rise quickly, and transport networks can be disrupted across a large region.

Tokyo Region Braces for the Storm

As Typhoon Dujuan moved north toward eastern Japan, attention remained focused on the Kanto region and the possibility of heavy rain, strong winds and flooding around Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures.

The storm was expected to approach the region between Monday afternoon and early Tuesday morning before moving eastward away from the Japanese mainland. While its eventual track would determine the precise areas affected most severely, the JMA was warning residents to prepare for potentially dangerous conditions in advance.

The combination of a large storm, heavy rainfall, strong winds, high waves and a major holiday travel period meant that the potential consequences extended from homes and businesses to railways, roads and other essential infrastructure.

Japan's weather agency continued to urge people to follow the latest forecasts and local warnings as the typhoon approached. For residents and travellers in eastern Japan, the message was clear: conditions could deteriorate quickly, and plans should be adjusted if necessary rather than taking unnecessary risks during the storm.