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. The typhoon is forecast 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 education 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 that working hours had fallen by around four hours per week compared to the previous survey in 2018, Japan’s teachers still far exceeded their global counterparts.
Meanwhile, beer deliveries from Asahi Group Holdings have been disrupted following a ransomware cyberattack. This incident has caused shortages that are already impacting izakaya and other establishments across Japan. Some bars have reported their beer stock falling to just a single unit left, as supply chain delays ripple through the industry.
On the morning of October 7th, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture around 9:30 a.m. The tremor registered 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 earthquake.
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. Trump wrote, “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/147193.php