Japan’s looming typhoon crisis threatens disaster defences and tourism

Japan could be heading into one of the worst typhoon seasons in its history, raising fears that stronger, more frequent storms will challenge not only the country’s disaster defences but also a summer travel industry already stretched by packed trains, hotels and itineraries.Tokyo-based Weathernews, a private meteorological firm providing long-range forecasts across Asia, has predicted that as many as 28 typhoons could affect Japan this year, with up to 14 potentially making landfall – well above the usual level and close to historical extremes.In a typical year, about 25 storm systems form in the western North Pacific, while fewer than three usually strike Japan’s main islands. The country’s record of 33 typhoons forming in a single year was set in 1994, while the highest number to make landfall is 10, in 2004.A swollen Koza River, following heavy rainfall brought by Typhoon Jangmi, in Kushimoto, Japan’s Wakayama prefecture, on June 3. Photo: Kyodo via ReutersIf the long-range predictions prove accurate, parts of Japan could face repeated bouts of extreme weather through the summer and into early autumn. Disruption from Typhoon Jangmi earlier this month offered an early warning of how quickly storms can ripple through the country’s transport and tourism systems.