Huge Whirlwind Appears Off Japan's Northern Coast

Oct 02, 2025 | News On Japan

YAMAGATA, Oct 02, 2025 (News On Japan) - A massive tornado-like phenomenon was observed late in the morning of October 2nd off the coast of Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture’s Shonai region, with thick swirling clouds rising high into the sky as seawater was drawn upward.

The unusual event occurred shortly after 11 a.m. offshore from Tsuruoka City. A viewer captured video footage showing a towering, funnel-shaped cloud reaching toward the heavens while spray from the sea below formed a mist-like appearance. The footage revealed an exceptionally thick and powerful vortex connecting the ocean surface to the sky.

According to meteorological explanations, cold air aloft had moved into the region around that time, creating strong convection. Warm air from the surface rose rapidly, forming cumulonimbus clouds, which in turn triggered the tornado-like phenomenon.

Experts note that during spring and autumn, when the temperature difference between the upper atmosphere and the surface widens, such phenomena are more likely to occur.

Source: TBS

Two Typhoons Bring Dangerous Swells to Japan's Pacific Coast

A very strong Typhoon No. 29 is moving north over the Pacific southeast of Japan and is expected to make its closest approach to the Ogasawara Islands around October 12, bringing dangerous waves and powerful swells to a wide stretch of the Pacific coast during the three-day holiday weekend, according to the latest forecast issued at 4 p.m. on October 10.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Humanoid Robots Set to Enter Japanese Convenience Stores

Humanoid robots capable of stocking shelves, managing inventory, packaging products, and serving customers in more than 20 languages were showcased at an international retail industry event in Tokyo on October 8, highlighting the growing potential of artificial intelligence to transform store operations as Japan struggles with chronic labor shortages.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Qilin Hacker Detained in Japan

A core member of the international ransomware group Qilin was detained in Japan and handed over to German authorities, according to people familiar with the case, as Japanese companies and institutions face a growing wave of cyberattacks that has exposed nearly 15 million pieces of personal information this month alone.

Japan Startup Begins Building Rare Earth Production Facility

Miresso, a Japanese startup backed by trading house Mitsui & Co., has announced the start of construction of a facility to produce beryllium, a rare metal essential for nuclear fusion power generation, with plans to manufacture 100 tons annually, equivalent to about one-third of current global production.

World’s First iPS Cell Heart Surgery Performed in Osaka

A woman in her 50s with severe heart failure underwent what was described as the world's first surgery using commercially available iPS cell-derived heart muscle sheets at an Osaka hospital on September 29, marking the first practical use of the regenerative treatment.