Travel

Typhoon Makes Landfall in Hokkaido for First Time in Nine Years

HOKKAIDO, Jul 15 (News On Japan) - Typhoon No. 5 made landfall near Cape Erimo in Hokkaido in the early hours of July 15th, marking the first time in nine years that a typhoon has struck the northernmost of Japan’s main islands.

At around 2 a.m., the typhoon reached the Hokkaido coast, and by 5 a.m. in Kushiro Port, large, tightly packed waves were observed across the water’s surface. Kushiro City recorded a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 24.3 meters per second shortly before 5 a.m.

JR Hokkaido suspended local train services on lines including the Nemuro Line and the Senmō Line from the first departure of the day. Some limited express trains were also canceled due to power outages caused by fallen trees.

The typhoon moved into the Sea of Okhotsk and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone by around 9 a.m., but authorities are urging continued caution over high waves along the Pacific coast through the evening.

Source: TBS

Major Philippines Quake Triggers Tsunami Alert Across Japan

[Updated 5:53 p.m.] A powerful earthquake struck off Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines at 8:38 a.m. (Japan time) on June 8th, generating tsunami waves across parts of the Pacific, causing building collapses and casualties near the epicenter, and prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue tsunami advisories along a wide stretch of Japan's Pacific coastline, which remained in effect as of 5:53 p.m.

Unlicensed Peruvian Man Conducts Risky Medical Procedure During Delivery

A clinic director and a former Peruvian staff member have been referred to prosecutors after the man allegedly performed medical procedures without a license, including an external cephalic version—a procedure used to manually turn a baby into the correct position before birth—at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic in Fukuoka City, raising concerns about patient safety and oversight in maternity care.

Bear Spotted Running Through Central Utsunomiya Shopping District

A large bear was captured on security camera footage running through a shopping arcade in central Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, in the early hours of June 7th, as authorities stepped up warnings following a series of bear sightings across the city.

Missing American Tourist Found Dead in Mountains Outside Kyoto

The family of James "Weston" Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University student who disappeared during a family vacation in Japan, announced on June 7th that he has been found dead after a volunteer search-and-rescue group located his body in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, bringing a week-long multinational search to a tragic end.

Tokai and Kanto Enter Rainy Season as Heavy Rain Threatens Western Japan

Japan's Meteorological Agency announced on June 7th that the rainy season is believed to have begun in the Tokai and Kanto-Koshin regions, marking the seasonal shift to wetter weather across a broad area of the country.

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Tokai and Kanto Enter Rainy Season as Heavy Rain Threatens Western Japan

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Kitayama River Rafting Offers Thrills Through Mountain Gorges

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Mad Bear On The Loose Despite Hit With Tranquilizer

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