Typhoon Ampir approaches Japan’s Kanto region

This week’s news digest includes updates on Typhoon Ampil and the government’s major earthquake warning. We also report on Fumio Kishida’s resignation and the visit of three cabinet members to the Yasukuni Shrine. In sports, we review the final three days of the Paris Olympics, where Japan jumped to third place in the medal table.

Typhoon Ampir severely affects Japan’s transportation

Heavy rain and high wind warnings in place Friday morning release Alerts have been issued for all 23 wards of Tokyo. Alerts have also been issued for other areas such as Fukushima Prefecture, Chiba Prefecture and the Izu Islands. Typhoon Ampir has developed into a strong storm and is approaching the Kanto region. according to The typhoon was located 100 kilometers east of Hachijojima, Tokyo, this morning, the weather bureau official said. It was reportedly moving north at 20 kilometers per hour. The weather bureau added that the typhoon’s center pressure was 950 hectopascals and wind speeds could reach up to 162 kilometers per hour.

Earlier this week, JR Central announced that it would suspend all Shinkansen services between Tokyo and Nagoya starting August 16 due to Typhoon Ampir. 5 AM There are no changes to the plan on Friday. A limited number of trains will run from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka. Meanwhile, JR East plans to cancel some services on the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen lines from 11 a.m. ANA and Japan Airlines also informed passengers that hundreds of flights to and from Haneda and Narita airports will be delayed or canceled.

Japan lifts one-week strong earthquake warning

At 5 p.m. Thursday, Japan’s meteorological agency announced the end of the warning period for a major earthquake in the Nankai Trough. However, the agency insisted that people should not let their guard down. The agency issued an unprecedented alert after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Kyushu last Thursday. People were asked to review their daily earthquake preparations and remain vigilant for a week. A day later, Sansuien, a Japanese-style inn in Kochi Prefecture, reported that about 450 guests had canceled their reservations. The 71st Yosakoi Festival kicked off in the prefecture that day, with four teams withdrawing.

In the coastal town of Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, more than 550 people were canceled at hotels and inns. Beaches in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, and Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, have also been closed. False information has heightened anxiety. False information about earthquake dates that appear to have been made up has been posted on social media. There have also been several images of so-called “earthquake clouds,” which are said to appear before an earthquake. However, there is no scientific basis for such claims. “Clouds cannot be a precursor to earthquakes,” wrote Kentaro Araki, a senior researcher at the Meteorological Research Institute of the Japan Meteorological Agency, on X-Files.

Fumio Kishida to resign as Japanese prime minister

Japan will soon have a new prime minister. On Wednesday, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that he will not run in next month’s presidential election for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The decision comes as his cabinet’s approval ratings continue to slide following a recent political fundraising scandal. “It is necessary to show the people that the LDP will change,” he said, “and for this, transparent and open elections and free and open debates are important. The first easy-to-understand step to show that the LDP will change is my withdrawal.”

After the announcement, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a heartfelt greeting to Kishida. He said: “In short, under Prime Minister Kishida’s leadership, the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance is stronger and brighter than ever.” explain He added in a statement: “Kishida’s courageous leadership will be remembered on both sides of the Pacific for decades to come, and I will be forever grateful to call him my friend.” Potential candidates to succeed him as prime minister include former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Digital Economy Minister Taro Kono, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi.

Three cabinet members visit controversial Yasukuni Shrine

The day after Kishida made the announcement, three of his cabinet ministers visited the Yasukuni Shrine to mark the 79th anniversary of the end of World War II. Other Asian countries see it as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression. The shrine enshrines the names of 2.4 million people who died in the war, including 14 people convicted of war crimes during World War II. One of the visitors was a staunch conservative politician. Grade 1She is expected to run in the LDP presidential election, along with Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Economic Revitalization Minister Yoshitaka Shindo.

Other lawmakers who visited the Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday included Shinjiro Koizumi and Takayuki Kobayashi, both potential candidates for the LDP presidential election. Prime Minister Kishida did not visit the shrine, but made offerings. Neighboring countries expressed anger at the actions of Japanese politicians. South Korea protested, urging “responsible Japanese leaders to face up to history and show real reflection and sincere repentance for the past through actions.” China’s Foreign Ministry called on Japan to “face up to and reflect on its history of aggression and be cautious in its words and deeds on historical issues.”

Two wrestling gold medals and a breakthrough win for Ami Yuasa

As the Paris Olympics entered their final three days, Japan was tied with Britain and South Korea for first place in the medal table, with a total of 13 gold medals. On Friday, Japan surpassed those two countries and France thanks to wins by break dancer Ami Yuasa and wrestlers Tsugumi Sakurai and Rei Higuchi. Yuasa became the first breakdancing gold medalist of the Games. The 25-year-old, known to fans as B-girl, defeated Dominika Banevich of Lithuania in the final. However, the most memorable performance of the Games was by Australian Rachel Gunn.

In the women’s 57kg freestyle wrestling event, Sakurai defeated Anastasia Nichita of Moldova 6-0 to take the podium. It was a repeat of last year’s world championship final, which Sakurai also won. In the men’s competition in the same weight class, Higuchi came from 0-2 down to beat Spencer Lee of the United States 4-2 to take the gold medal. That same evening, Japan’s Sorato Anraku finished second in the men’s combined climbing event behind Britain’s Toby Roberts. The 17-year-old Chiba Prefecture native was the last frontrunner. With the gold medal in sight, the favorite suddenly lost.

Japan finishes Paris Olympics with 20 gold medals, third

Japan won eight more medals over the weekend, including four golds. Kitaguchi Haruka became the first Japanese woman to reach the podium in a field event. She threw 65.80 meters on her first throw, good enough to win the javelin final. The other three medals came in wrestling. Motoki Sakura won the women’s 62kg freestyle final with a technical advantage over Ukraine’s Irina Kolyadenko. The next night, Kiyooka Kotaro defeated Iran’s Rahman Amouzad 10-3 to win the men’s 65kg freestyle gold. Japan’s final gold medal of the Games came from Yuka Kagami in the women’s 76kg freestyle final.

She defeated American Kennedy Blaydes to become the first Japanese female wrestler to win the heaviest weight class at the Olympics. Her victory means Japan has won a record eight gold medals in wrestling. Japan won a total of 45 medals, the country’s highest total at an Olympic Games held abroad. With 20 gold medals, Japan surpassed Australia to move into third place in the medal table. The United States topped the list, ahead of China. Both countries won 40 gold medals, but the United States won more silver medals.

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