Heavy rain hits southwest Japan, disaster risk rises

Southwestern Japan's Kyushu region is experiencing heavy rainfall, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue warnings for landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and overflowing rivers. The severe weather is concentrated in Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, where successive zones of heavy rain clouds have formed.

Atmospheric conditions are expected to remain highly unstable across western Japan. Shikoku, one of the country's four main islands, may also face rainfall intense enough to warrant warnings. A weather front extending from mainland China through the Nansei Islands to the south of Japan, coupled with a low-pressure system over the East China Sea, is drawing warm, moist air, intensifying the downpours with thunder.

By early June 8, rainfall totals are projected to reach up to 300 millimeters in Shikoku and 150mm in southern Kyushu and the Amami region within a 24-hour period. Meanwhile, the JMA announced that the Tokai region in central Japan and the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tokyo, have officially entered the rainy season. This season typically concludes in mid- to late July.

The onset of the rainy season in Tokai is believed to be one day later than usual, and 21 days later than in 2025. In the Kanto-Koshin region, it started around the typical date but was 16 days later than in the previous year. The agency is closely monitoring the developing weather patterns and their potential impact.