Heavy Rain Causes School Closures, Transit Disruptions, and One Death in Japan

Heavy rainfall across Japan on Monday led to the closure of 3,661 schools across 11 prefectures and significant transportation disruptions. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, train suspensions affected more than 140,000 people. Major lines, including the Yamanote loop line, operated with services reduced by approximately 20 to 30 percent during the early morning hours. While the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line remained scheduled to run, operators warned that services could be halted or delayed depending on weather conditions.

Casualties and extreme weather warnings were reported in several regions. A woman in her sixties was declared dead after being found unresponsive in a submerged car at an underpass in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture. Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a special landslide warning for Niijima Island after recording more than 480mm of rain over 24 hours, which is the largest amount since local records began. Level 4 landslide alerts were also issued for parts of Chiba and Saitama prefectures, and warnings were issued for the northeastern Tohoku region as a seasonal rain front moved north.