Tropical Storm Shanshan is heading slowly eastward across Japan, bringing record rainfall to wide areas. The Meteorological Agency says bands of heavy rainclouds that cause torrential rain could occur Saturday night over the regions of Tokai and Kanto-Koshin - including Tokyo.
At least six people were dead as Typhoon Shanshan crept eastward through Japan on Saturday, drenching large areas with torrential rain, triggering landslide and flood warnings hundreds of kilometres from the storm's centre.
Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed homes with roofs partly sheered off while cars drove wheels-deep on flooded roads in the country's southwest. The storm made landfall in Kyushu on Thursday, bringing record levels of rainfall.
One person was missing and more than 100 have been injured, said Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency. More than 35,000 homes were without power in southern Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric.
Shanshan, centred in the Pacific Ocean some 480 km (300 miles) southwest of Tokyo at 12:50 p.m. (0350 GMT), triggered heavy rain as far away as the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, despite being downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday. Winds were gusting up to 25 metres per second (90 kph, 55 mph).
Authorities have issued flood and landslide warnings around the country since the storm's arrival, halting air and rail services and shutting factories. The storm is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression over the weekend but is expected to continue to bring heavy rain, NHK reported.
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Rainfall is forecast to reach up to 400 millimeters in Tokai during the 24 hours through Sunday evening, up to 300 millimeters in Kanto-Koshin, 200 millimeters in Kinki.
Shanshan has caused at least six deaths. More than 120 people around Japan have been injured. Several prefectures have issued alerts for landslides.
As the storm approached, the almost 12-hour stream by a Japanese weather station captured the lanky tree on the coast of Kyushu, the country’s southwestern-most main island, whipping back and forth violently — but never toppling. The dramatic display of resilience won the hearts of thousands online, many of whom flooded the comments to root for the tree — known affectionately as “Yasshi” — to survive.
“Endure!” and “Hold on Yasshi!” some cheered. “Extreme guts,” another wrote. More than one commenter even confessed that they were losing sleep over whether Yasshi would pull through — never mind the typhoon barreling toward them. Another likened the footage, which shows Yasshi illuminated brightly against a dark landscape, to a Rembrandt painting.
Still, on Thursday, many eyes were on the defiant palm tree. At one point, more than 12,000 people were watching Yasshi’s fight in real time, according to Jeffrey J. Hall, a Japan-based researcher who shared the stream on social media. The footage now has 1.5 million views.
One poetic comment got at what may have compelled so many: “Flexibility overcomes strength,” it read, framing the swaying tree as an underdog — a David to Shanshan’s Goliath.
The storm is expected to gradually weaken and turn into a tropical depression on Monday. But people are advised to be on the alert for heavy rain.
The operator of Tokaido Shinkansen, linking Tokyo and Osaka, has suspended all train services between Mishima and Nagoya stations for Saturday and Sunday.
The operator says the bullet train at other sections could also be suspended, depending on the rain volume.
The Sanyo Shinkansen, linking Osaka and Fukuoka, is running with services reduced.
Major air carriers, including All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, have canceled dozens of flights, most of which were to and from airports in the Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.
Some sections of expressways across the country are also closed. Highway operators are calling on motorists to consider changing their schedules and to check the latest road information, as traffic restrictions may be widely imposed for extended periods.
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