Tokyo: Typhoon Dujuan slammed into Japan on Monday, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and placing more than one million residents under evacuation advisories near Tokyo as the storm battered the region with potentially record-breaking rainfall.

Late summer and early autumn frequently bring powerful typhoons to Japan, with earlier storms already disrupting several events at the Asian Games currently being hosted in the country.

Typhoon Dujuan brought howling winds of around 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour as it made its approach, positioning itself about 130 kilometers south of Katsuura City near Tokyo on Monday.

The severe weather triggered widespread travel and utility disruptions across the capital region:

  • Aviation: Japan Airlines cancelled 135 flights, while All Nippon Airways scrapped 140.

  • Power Grid: More than 9,000 households near Tokyo were left without power.

  • Rail Network: Railway operators in Tokyo and neighboring regions suspended services on multiple lines.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, more than 1.6 million residents in and around Tokyo were urged to seek safer ground, though the evacuation advisories remain non-mandatory. Meanwhile, official landslide warnings were issued for Tokyo as well as Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizuoka prefectures.

Addressing reporters, Takuya Hosomi of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) noted that in areas under warning, "there's a risk the rain will continue as the typhoon moves north."

The storm's onset matched earlier predictions from the JMA, which had warned on Sunday that heavy rain and high winds would intensify well before the eye of the typhoon arrived.

"The total rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly rainfall for September, resulting in record-breaking heavy rain," the agency stated.

The initial impact of the typhoon resulted in minor injury to one person and structural damage to nine houses.

Public events and daily life faced major disruptions as the storm swept through. The Tokyo Game Show—one of the world’s premier video-game trade fairs—was forced to shut down early on Monday, its final scheduled day. Additionally, a major outdoor music festival and a professional baseball match scheduled in Chiba were both called off.

Flooding quickly hit key transit and tourist hubs. Images shared on social media showed roads submerged in front of Kamakura Station, a renowned sightseeing destination.

Warning residents of the hazards, Kamakura City Mayor Takashi Matsuo posted on X: "There is flooding in various parts of the city, so travelling by car is dangerous." (AFP)