Taifu Shurai no Hi (Typhoon Landfall Day)

What Is Typhoon Landfall Day?

Every September 26th is known in Japan as "Typhoon Landfall Day" (台風襲来の日, Taifū Shūrai no Hi). It was not established by any particular organization; rather, it is known as a "singularity" date on which, statistically, major typhoons have often struck Japan. The Toyamaru Typhoon of 1954, the Kanogawa Typhoon of 1958, and the Isewan (Ise Bay) Typhoon of 1959 all hit Japan on this day, which is why it is sometimes called "the fateful September 26th." The traditional calendar markers Nihyaku-tōka (the 210th day) and Nihyaku-hatsuka (the 220th day) are well known as typhoon warning periods, but late September is no time to let one's guard down either.

Three Typhoons That Struck on September 26th

The damage from the major typhoons that struck around the mid-1950s led to major changes in Japan's disaster prevention systems.

• Toyamaru Typhoon (1954): The Seikan ferry Toya Maru capsized, leaving 1,155 people dead or missing, the worst maritime disaster in Japanese history.
• Kanogawa Typhoon (1958): It approached the Izu Peninsula on the 26th and made landfall in Kanagawa Prefecture early on the 27th, causing severe flooding mainly along the Kano River in Izu, with 1,269 people dead or missing.
• Isewan Typhoon (1959): It made landfall near Cape Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture on the evening of the 26th, and storm surges along Ise Bay and other damage left 5,098 people dead or missing, the worst typhoon disaster in Japan since the Meiji era.

How the Isewan Typhoon Changed Disaster Prevention in Japan

Learning from the Isewan Typhoon, Japan enacted the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act in 1961, creating a system in which national and local governments draw up disaster prevention plans. In 1964, a weather radar was installed on the summit of Mt. Fuji (the Mt. Fuji Radar), strengthening typhoon observation. The Japan Meteorological Agency's "emergency warnings," introduced in 2013, also use an Isewan Typhoon-class storm as the standard for typhoons.

Facts About Typhoons

• Another singularity date: September 17th is also known as a singularity date for major typhoons.
• The three great typhoons of the Showa era: The Isewan Typhoon is counted with the Muroto Typhoon (1934) and the Makurazaki Typhoon (1945) as the "three great typhoons of the Showa era," and it caused the worst damage of the three.
• Strongest landfall on Honshu: With a central pressure of 929 hPa at landfall, the Isewan Typhoon still holds the record as the strongest typhoon to make landfall on Honshu.
• Wind force grows with the square of speed: The force an object receives from the wind is proportional to the square of the wind speed, so doubling the wind speed roughly quadruples the force.

Ideas for Typhoon Landfall Day

• Check your emergency kit, including food expiration dates and whether your mobile battery is charged.
• Use your municipality's hazard map to check flood and landslide risks and evacuation sites for your home and workplace.
• Put away items on balconies or in gardens that could be blown away, and clean gutters and drains.
• Save reliable information sources, such as the Japan Meteorological Agency and your local government, on your phone.

Turning Past Typhoons into Future Preparedness

September 26th is a day to recall the memory of past major typhoons and review how to protect yourself and your family. With typhoon season still underway, why not check one aspect of your disaster preparedness today?