At 9 a.m. on October 8th, Typhoon No. 22 (Halong), classified as a very strong system, was moving north over the ocean south of Japan. The typhoon maintained a well-defined eye and intense strength as it progressed.
The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the storm is expected to approach the Izu Islands tonight and pass over southern islands such as Hachijojima and Aogashima on October 9th. It is anticipated to bring violent winds and torrential rain, strong enough to cause structural damage. Authorities are urging residents to exercise the highest level of caution.
In other news, elementary and junior high school teachers in Japan continue to work the longest hours among their peers worldwide, according to an OECD report released on Tuesday. While the 2024 results from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showed working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared with the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceed their global counterparts in terms of hours worked.
Meanwhile, beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack. This has caused shortages that are already affecting izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to only one remaining unit as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.
Additionally, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. on October 7th, registering a maximum intensity of 4 on the Japanese seismic scale. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, there is no risk of a tsunami caused by this tremor.
In political news, former U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to congratulate Japan following the selection of its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. He wrote that, “Japan has just elected its first female Prime Minister, a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.” While Trump did not name Takaichi directly, his post came as she assumed leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and was set to be formally elected as prime minister.
https://newsonjapan.com/article/147194.php