Typhoons in Japan

Japan is one of the countries frequently hit by typhoons, with the nation giving its own names to particularly destructive storms.

Since records began in 1951, an average of 2.6 typhoons reached the main islands of Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido per year. Okinawa is, due to its geographic location, most vulnerable to typhoons with an average of 7 storms per year. The most destructive was Typhoon Vera (known in Japan as the Isewan Typhoon), with 5,000 casualties in the Tokai region in September 1959. The costliest to affect Japan (and the second costliest in the Western Pacific basin) was Typhoon Hagibis (also known as the Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon), which caused $17.3 billion (2019 USD) in damages throughout the country.^[1] Until the 1960s, the death toll was often hundreds of people per typhoon. Since then, improvements in construction, flood prevention, high tide detection and early warnings have substantially reduced the death toll, which now rarely exceeds a dozen people per typhoon. Japan also has special search and rescue units to save people in distress.^[2]

• September 1902 ― 1,300 people are killed by a typhoon in Japan.^[3]
• September 22, 1912 ― A typhoon kills 1,000 people, leaves US$20 million in damage, and sinks the SS Kiche Maru.^[4]
• September 1917 ― The island of Honshu is struck by a typhoon, leading to 4,000 deaths and US$50 million in damages.^[4]
• September 1923 ― A typhoon strikes the island of Honshu, killing 3,000 and causing US$10 million in damages.^[4]
• September 13, 1927 ― A damaging typhoon strikes Kyushu.
• August 1931 ― A typhoon impacts the southern Ryukyu islands, where it would kill 15 people and wreck 10,000 houses. The island of Ishigaki would record a minimum pressure of 986 mbar (29.1 inHg).
• August 24, 1931 ― A typhoon struck Okinawa with a minimum pressure of 963 mbar (28.4 inHg).
• September 1931 ― A typhoon strikes the island of Kyushu.
• September 1931 ― A typhoon moves across Western Japan and Sakhalin, causing 100-1,000 deaths and destroying 1,346 houses in the Tokyo area.^[5]
• October 13, 1931 ― A typhoon moves across Central Japan, bringing high winds and loss of life.
• September 21, 1934 ― The Muroto Typhoon causes extraordinary damage in Japan, in which it killed 3,066 people and caused over US$300 million in damages.^[6] The storm is the strongest to strike mainland Japan by barometric pressure.^[7]
• September 27, 1935 ― A typhoon would make landfall in Japan, causing several hundred casualties and destroying 75,000 houses.^[8]
• July 1936 ― A typhoon crosses the Ryukyu islands and then makes landfall in Hokkaido, killing 7 people.^[9]
• July 25, 1937 ― Kyushu is struck by a typhoon.
• August 3, 1937 ― The Ryukyu Islands are struck by a typhoon, with a minimum pressure of 979 mbar (28.9 inHg) recorded on Ishigaki.
• September 10, 1937 ― A typhoon strikes Shikoku, killing at least 70 people as it moved across Japan.^[10]
• September 11, 1940 ― A typhoon hits Kyushu and Honshu, killing at least 50 people.
• September 17, 1945 ― Typhoon Ida, known in Japan as the Makurazaki Typhoon, kills 2,473 people in Japan only a month after its surrender in World War II.^[11]
• October 10, 1945 ― Typhoon Louise, known in Japan as the Akune Typhoon, kills 377 people and causes US$100,000 in damages across the country.^[12]
• September 15, 1946 ― Typhoon Kathleen strikes the Boso Peninsula, killing 1,077 people.^[13]
• September 16, 1947 ― Typhoon Ione makes landfall in Honshu, leaving 512 people dead.^[14]

• September 3, 1950 ― Typhoon Jane kills 398 people and causes catastrophic damage after making landfall in Shikoku.^[15]
• September 13, 1950 ― Typhoon Kezia leaves 30 dead and destroys 4,836 houses in Kyushu.
• July 1, 1951 ― Typhoon Kate kills 13 people in Kyushu.^[16]
• October 14, 1951 ― Typhoon Ruth kills 572 across Japan.
• June 7, 1953 ― Typhoon Judy kills 37 people in Kyushu.
• September 25, 1953 ― Typhoon Tess causes major damage, killing 393 people in Honshu.^[17]
• August 17, 1954 ― Typhoon Grace kills 43 people.
• September 13, 1954 ― Typhoon June hits Kyushu, killing 107.
• September 18, 1954 ― Typhoon Lorna kills 34 in Honshu.
• September 26, 1954 ― Typhoon Marie (known in Japan as the Toya Maru Typhoon) strikes Japan, causing the sinking of the Toya Maru. 1,361 would be killed.^[18]
• September 29, 1955 ― Typhoon Louise would cause 54 deaths in Kyushu.
• September 8, 1956 ― Typhoon Emma kills 77 and causes US$8-12 million in damages in Okinawa.
• September 27, 1956 ― Typhoon Harriet strikes Honshu, killing 53 and leaving US$50 million in damages.
• September 6, 1957 ― Typhoon Bess kills 20 people.
• July 22, 1958 ― Typhoon Alice hits Japan, killing 26.
• September 26, 1958 ― Typhoon Ida, known in Japan as the Kanogawa Typhoon, would cause catastrophic damage, killing 1,269 and causing US$50 million in damages.^[19]
• August 13, 1959 ― Typhoon Georgia hits Honshu, killing 188 and causing US$50 million in damages.
• September 14, 1959 ― Typhoon Sarah, known in Japan as the Miyakojima Typhoon, kills 7 and causes US$2 million in damages on Miyakojima.
• September 26, 1959 ― Typhoon Vera, known in Japan as the Isewan Typhoon, would be the worst typhoon to affect the nation on record, killing 5,098 and causing US$261 million in damages.^[20]
• October 16, 1959 ― Typhoon Charlotte traverses Okinawa, killing 46 and leaving US$300,000 in damages.

• August 12, 1960 ― Typhoon Wendy impacts Japan, leaving 28 dead.
• September 16, 1961 ― Typhoon Nancy, known in Japan as the 2nd Muroto Typhoon, caused phenomenal damage in the nation, leaving 202 dead and causing US$500 million in damages.
• August 9, 1963 ― Typhoon Bess strikes Kyushu, killing 23.
• August 23, 1964 ― Typhoon Kathy would affect Okinawa and Kyushu, leaving 75 dead.
• September 24, 1964 ― Typhoon Wilda hits Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 43.
• August 5, 1965 ― Typhoon Jean strikes Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 28.
• September 10, 1965 ― Typhoon Shirley makes landfall in Shikoku as a major typhoon, killing 67 people.
• September 17, 1965 ― Typhoon Trix would strike Japan a week after Shirley, killing 98 people.
• June 28, 1966 ― Although offshore, Typhoon Kit would kill 64 in eastern Japan.
• September 24, 1966 ― Typhoon Ida would make landfall as a major typhoon in Honshu, killing 275-318 people.
• August 18, 1968 ― Although offshore, Tropical Storm Polly would cause torrential rainfall, with 112 people killed.
• August 24, 1968 ― Typhoon Della, known in Japan as the 3rd Miyakojima Typhoon, would strike the Ryukyu islands, leaving 11 people dead.

• August 21, 1970 ― Typhoon Anita struck Shikoku as a major typhoon; 23 would be killed.
• August 5, 1971 ― Typhoon Olive would kill 69 people as it made landfall in Shikoku.
• August 29, 1971 ― Typhoon Trix would cause 44 deaths and US$50.6 million in damages as it affected Japan.
• September 7, 1971 ― Typhoon Virginia would skirt by the coast of Honshu as a tropical storm, leading to 56 deaths.
• July 20, 1972 ― Typhoon Rita would loop around the Ryukyu Islands, killing 3 people.
• September 16, 1972 ― Typhoon Helen would kill 87 and cause US$102 million in damages as it struck Honshu as a major typhoon.
• July 6, 1973 ― Typhoon Gilda, despite affecting Japan as a weak system, would kill 138 people.
• August 17, 1975 ― Typhoon Phyllis struck Shikoku, killing 88 and causing US$37 million in damage.
• August 21, 1975 ― Typhoon Rita left 33 dead and caused US$114 million in damages as it swept through Japan.
• September 9, 1976 ― Typhoon Fran would dump tremendous rainfall, killing 169 and causing US$660 million in damages.
• September 8, 1977 ― Typhoon Babe, known in Japan as the Okinoerabu Typhoon, would kill 23 people and leave US$23 million in damages in the Ryukyu Islands.
• October 19, 1979 ― Typhoon Tip, after reaching its remarkable peak intensity, would strike Japan as a minimal typhoon, killing 42 people and causing US$482.34 million in damages throughout the country.

• September 11, 1980 ― Typhoon Orchid kills 53 in Kyushu as a moderate typhoon.
• August 23, 1981 ― Typhoon Thad kills 43 and leaves US$1.03 billion in damages across Japan.
• August 1, 1982 ― Typhoon Bess, a destructive storm, would kill 95 and cause US$2.38 billion in damage.
• September 25, 1982 ― Typhoon Ken kills 5 as it makes landfall on Shikoku.
• August 17, 1983 ― A weakening Typhoon Abby strikes Honshu, leaving 7 people dead and causing minimal damage.
• September 28, 1983 ― Typhoon Forrest hits Kyushu as a minimal typhoon, killing 21 people.
• June 30, 1985 ― Typhoon Irma strikes Honshu, killing 19 people and inflicting US$545 million in damage.
• August 31, 1985 ― Typhoon Pat leaves 23 dead in Kyushu.
• August 3, 1986 ― The remnants of Tropical Storm Sarah kill 14 people.
• October 16, 1987 ― Typhoon Kelly would strike Japan, killing 9 and inflicting US$366 million in damages.
• July 27, 1989 ― Typhoon Judy hits Kyushu, leading to the deaths of 11 people and causing US$28.9 million in damages.
• September 19, 1989 ― Typhoon Wayne kills eight.

• August 10, 1990 ― Typhoon Winona strikes Honshu at peak intensity, killing one and inflicting US$60.3 million in damages.
• August 21, 1990 ― Six die and US$104 million in damages is caused by Typhoon Zola.
• September 19, 1990 ― Typhoon Flo strikes Honshu, causing 40 deaths and US$918 million in damages.
• September 29, 1990 ― Typhoon Gene hits Japan as a minimal typhoon, killing 6 people and inflicting US$158 million in losses.
• October 7, 1990 ― Typhoon Hattie affects Japan after weakening to a tropical storm, killing 3 people and causing US$9.9 million in damage.
• November 30, 1990 ― The sixth and final storm to affect Japan in 1990, Typhoon Page resulted in 4 deaths and US$33 million in losses in Japan.
• July 27, 1991 ― Typhoon Caitlin, although bringing drought relief, kills six people and causes US$75 million in damages throughout Japan.
• August 22, 1991 ― Tropical Storm Gladys results in 23 fatalities and US$88.4 million in damages across Southern Japan.
• September 13, 1991 ― Typhoon Kinna killed 11 people and caused US$383 million in damage across Japan after hitting Kyushu at peak intensity.
• September 19, 1991 ― Tropical Storm Luke stays offshore Japan but kills 12 people and causes US$179 million in damage.
• September 27, 1991 ― Typhoon Mireille makes landfall near Hiroshima, becoming the costliest typhoon on record at the time. Mireille would kill 68 people and cause US$10 billion in damages throughout the country.
• July 1, 1992 ― Typhoon Bobbie impacts Japan, leading to US$27.2 million in damages.
• August 4, 1992 ― Tropical Storm Irving hits Shikoku and Kyushu, killing two people and causing US$4.74 million in losses.
• August 7, 1992 ― Typhoon Janis strikes Kyushu, killing 12 people and inflicting US$584 million in damage.
• August 18, 1992 ― Typhoon Kent makes landfall in Kyushu as a tropical storm, killing 8 people and causing US$15 million in losses.
• July 24, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Nathan leaves 47 people dead.
• July 27, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Ofelia moves over Japan, killing 13 and causing $197 million in damage.
• July 29, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Percy strikes Kyushu at peak intensity, inflicting US$35.4 million in damages.
• August 9, 1993 ― Typhoon Robyn brushes the coast of Kyushu, resulting in the deaths of 9 people and damages totaling US$92.3 million.
• September 3, 1993 ― Typhoon Yancy would make landfall in Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 48 people and inflicting US$1.67 billion in losses.
• September 29, 1994 ― Typhoon Orchid causes 9 deaths in Honshu.
• September 17, 1995 ― Typhoon Oscar skirts past Honshu as a super typhoon, resulting in 8 fatalities and US$6.7 million in losses.
• September 23, 1995 ― Typhoon Ryan strikes Kyushu as a borderline major typhoon, causing 5 deaths.
• July 18, 1996 ― Typhoon Eve would make a powerful landfall in Kyushu, although it would cause no fatalities.
• July 26, 1997 ― Typhoon Rosie makes landfall in Shikoku, causing 5 deaths.
• September 15, 1997 ― Typhoon Oliwa strikes Kyushu, killing 11 people and causing US$50.1 million in damages.
• September 22, 1998 ― Typhoon Vicki makes landfall on the Kii Peninsula, resulting in 18 deaths.
• October 17, 1998 ― Typhoon Zeb would move through Japan, killing 14 people throughout the country and causing US$335.5 million in losses.
• September 23, 1999 ― Typhoon Bart strikes Kyushu as a powerful typhoon, killing 30 people and resulting in US$5.75 billion in damages.

The Japan Meteorological Agency assigns special names to typhoons that have caused significant damage in Japan.^[21]

Significant typhoons with special names^[22]
(from the Japan Meteorological Agency)

Name	Number	Japanese name
Ida	T4518	Makurazaki Typhoon (枕崎台風)[23][24]
Louise	T4523	Akune Typhoon (阿久根台風)
Marie	T5415	Tōya Maru Typhoon (洞爺丸台風)
Ida	T5822	Kanogawa Typhoon (狩野川台風)
Sarah	T5914	Miyakojima Typhoon (宮古島台風)
Vera	T5915	Isewan Typhoon (伊勢湾台風)
Nancy	T6118	2nd Muroto Typhoon (第2室戸台風)
Cora	T6618	2nd Miyakojima Typhoon (第2宮古島台風)
Della	T6816	3rd Miyakojima Typhoon (第3宮古島台風)
Babe	T7709	Okinoerabu Typhoon (沖永良部台風)
Faxai	T1915	Reiwa 1 Bōsō Peninsula Typhoon (令和元年房総半島台風)
Hagibis	T1919	Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon (令和元年東日本台風)

• Tropical Cyclone Information - Japan Meteorological Agency
• Digital Typhoon - National Institute of Informatics