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worlddiva · Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 10:47 pm Post subject: typhoons...

Hey guys!

I just read about the typhoon that hit Kochi prefecture... This is where I'm supposed to be going in February. AGH! So many typhoons have hit this year and the more I think about it ...the more concerned I've become about my personal safety while in Japan.

How serious are these typhoons? The only info I get is what I read in the news but you never really know for sure unless you're actually there.

I would really appreciate a first hand experience...

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I don't live in Kochi, but most of the deaths occur when people do stupid things like try to fix their roofs in the middle of one.

This year has had a lot of typhoons. I think the total is 24 now. A usual year has about 15. Mostly typhoons are just a nuisance. If the winds are real strong they might shut down the trains. They can have a bit of a psychological effect on you as well. No one like getting cold and wet everyday.

Fall is usually my favorite season in Japan. With the exception of the typhoons the weather is great. This year nice weather seems to have been the exception.

AgentMulderUK · Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 2:20 am Post subject:

Typhoons are nothing to worry about. Just be sensible. Don't climb trees or go swimming during one...!

worldwidealive · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 84

In regards to strength and overall damage, except for those that strike the southern most tiny islands of Japan, most of them come nowhere near those that strike North America.

A "typhoon" is a blanket word for what Americans would call everything from a tropical depression, to a tropical storm, to a hurricane. So, usually, it is a bit of a breezy day with plenty of rain.

As stated before they rarely are more than just nuisance. You'll have more risk from the crabby old housewifes and their grocery-laden bicycles refusing to yield for you on the sidewalk.

WWA

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

This latest one was pretty bad, but 129,999,950 people survived and about 50 didn't. Still pretty good odds, better than you'd get in Vegas.

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Big earthquakes are way worse than typhoons. Just had big one of them this evening. No damage here, but way scarier than rain.

Marika · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 32

homersimpson · Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 569 Location: Kagoshima

BradS · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

I understand what your saying, but here in Tokyo every time there's been a typhoon I honestly can't tell the difference between that and rain. The last two were pretty insane though. REAL windy. I almost got blown over.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

BradS,

Tokyo historically doesn't get the worst of the typhoons. As I understand it, it's an accident of geography.

Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku, however, get hit badly in typhoons. I made the mistake when I was living in rural Ehime-ken of attempting to walk to school in a typhoon, thinking 'Hey, what's a little rain and wind?' But it was very dangerous with flying debris from what Homersimpson referred to as 'shanties'. The places people call home in rural parts of Japan are just bits of corrugated sheet metal strung together with bailing wire which inevitably go for a flier in a storm.

Of course, typhoons are somewhat predictable, making them easier to prepare for. Even in northern Chiba prefecture where I am (affectionately known as Chibaraki - Chiba-Ibaraki border) my neighbours put tape on their windows. I guess it's dual purpose - quakes or storms. Exclamation