Japan is one of the countries frequently hit by typhoons, with the nation giving its own names to particularly destructive storms.
Since records began in 1951, an average of 2.6 typhoons reached the main islands of Kyushu, Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido per year. Okinawa is, due to its geographic location, most vulnerable to typhoons with an average of 7 storms per year. The most destructive was Typhoon Vera (known in Japan as the Isewan Typhoon), with 5,000 casualties in the Tokai region in September 1959. The costliest to affect Japan (and the second costliest in the Western Pacific basin when not adjusted for inflation) was Typhoon Hagibis (also known as the Reiwa 1 East Japan Typhoon), which caused $17.3 billion (2019 USD) in damages throughout the country. Until the 1960s, the death toll was often hundreds of people per typhoon. Since then, improvements in construction, flood prevention, high tide detection and early warnings have substantially reduced the death toll, which now rarely exceeds a dozen people per typhoon. Japan also has special search and rescue units to save people in distress.
Pre–1600
20th century Pre-1950s September 1902 ― 1,300 people were killed by a typhoon in Japan. September 22, 1912 ― A typhoon killed 1,000 people, left US$20 million in damage, and sank the SS Kiche Maru. September 1917 ― The island of Honshu was struck by a typhoon, leading to 4,000 deaths and US$50 million in damages. September 1923 ― A typhoon struck the island of Honshu, killing 3,000 and causing US$10 million in damages. September 13, 1927 ― A damaging typhoon struck Kyushu. August 1931 ― A typhoon impacted the southern Ryukyu islands, where it would kill 15 people and wreck 10,000 houses. The island of Ishigaki would record a minimum pressure of 986 mbar (29.1 inHg). August 24, 1931 ― A typhoon struck Okinawa with a minimum pressure of 963 mbar (28.4 inHg). September 1931 ― A typhoon struck the island of Kyushu. September 1931 ― A typhoon moved across Western Japan and Sakhalin, causing 100-1,000 deaths and destroying 1,346 houses in the Tokyo area. October 13, 1931 ― A typhoon moved across Central Japan, bringing high winds and loss of life. September 21, 1934 ― The Muroto Typhoon caused extraordinary damage in Japan, in which it killed 3,066 people and caused over US$300 million in damages. The storm is the strongest to strike mainland Japan by barometric pressure. September 27, 1935 ― A typhoon would make landfall in Japan, causing several hundred casualties and destroying 75,000 houses. July 1936 ― A typhoon crossed the Ryukyu islands and then made landfall in Hokkaido, killing 7 people. July 25, 1937 ― Kyushu was struck by a typhoon. August 3, 1937 ― The Ryukyu Islands were struck by a typhoon, with a minimum pressure of 979 mbar (28.9 inHg) recorded on Ishigaki. September 10, 1937 ― A typhoon struck Shikoku, killing at least 70 people as it moved across Japan. September 11, 1940 ― A typhoon hit Kyushu and Honshu, killing at least 50 people. September 17, 1945 ― Typhoon Ida, known in Japan as the Makurazaki Typhoon, killed 2,473 people in Japan only a month after its surrender in World War II. October 10, 1945 ― Typhoon Louise, known in Japan as the Akune Typhoon, killed 377 people and causes US$100,000 in damages across the country. September 15, 1946 ― Typhoon Kathleen struck the Boso Peninsula, killing 1,077 people. September 16, 1948 ― Typhoon Ione made landfall in Honshu, leaving 512 people dead.
1950s
September 3, 1950 ― Typhoon Jane killed 398 people and caused catastrophic damage after making landfall in Shikoku. September 13, 1950 ― Typhoon Kezia left 30 dead and destroyed 4,836 houses in Kyushu. July 1, 1951 ― Typhoon Kate killed 13 people in Kyushu. October 14, 1951 ― Typhoon Ruth killed 572 across Japan. June 7, 1953 ― Typhoon Judy killed 37 people in Kyushu. September 25, 1953 ― Typhoon Tess caused major damage, killing 393 people in Honshu. August 17, 1954 ― Typhoon Grace killed 43 people. September 13, 1954 ― Typhoon June hit Kyushu, killing 107. September 18, 1954 ― Typhoon Lorna killed 34 in Honshu. September 26, 1954 ― Typhoon Marie (known in Japan as the Toya Maru Typhoon) struck Japan, causing the sinking of the Toya Maru. 1,361 would be killed. September 29, 1955 ― Typhoon Louise would cause 54 deaths in Kyushu. September 8, 1956 ― Typhoon Emma killed 77 and caused US$8-12 million in damages in Okinawa. September 27, 1956 ― Typhoon Harriet struck Honshu, killing 53 and leaving US$50 million in damages. September 6, 1957 ― Typhoon Bess killed 20 people. July 22, 1958 ― Typhoon Alice hit Japan, killing 26. September 26, 1958 ― Typhoon Ida, known in Japan as the Kanogawa Typhoon, would cause catastrophic damage, killing 1,269 and causing US$50 million in damages. August 13, 1959 ― Typhoon Georgia hit Honshu, killing 188 and causing US$50 million in damages. September 14, 1959 ― Typhoon Sarah, known in Japan as the Miyakojima Typhoon, killed 7 and caused US$2 million in damages on Miyakojima. September 26, 1959 ― Typhoon Vera, known in Japan as the Isewan Typhoon, would be the worst typhoon to affect the nation on record, killing 5,098 and causing US$261 million in damages after making landfall as a Category 5 Super Typhoon and is the strongest typhoon to strike Japan in history. October 16, 1959 ― Typhoon Charlotte traversed Okinawa, killing 46 and leaving US$300,000 in damages.
1960s
August 12, 1960 ― Typhoon Wendy impacted Japan, leaving 28 dead. September 16, 1961 ― Typhoon Nancy, known in Japan as the 2nd Muroto Typhoon, caused severe damage, leaving 202 dead and US$500 million in damages. Alt URL August 9, 1963 ― Typhoon Bess struck Kyushu, killing 23. August 23, 1964 ― Typhoon Kathy would affect Okinawa and Kyushu, leaving 75 dead. September 24, 1964 ― Typhoon Wilda hit Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 43. August 5, 1965 ― Typhoon Jean struck Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 28. September 10, 1965 ― Typhoon Shirley made landfall in Shikoku as a major typhoon, killing 67 people. September 17, 1965 ― Typhoon Trix would strike Japan a week after Shirley, killing 98 people. June 28, 1966 ― Although offshore, Typhoon Kit would kill 64 in eastern Japan. September 24, 1966 ― Typhoon Ida would make landfall as a major typhoon in Honshu, killing 275-318 people. August 18, 1968 ― Although offshore, Tropical Storm Polly would cause torrential rainfall, with 112 people killed. August 24, 1968 ― Typhoon Della, known in Japan as the 3rd Miyakojima Typhoon, would strike the Ryukyu islands, leaving 11 people dead.
1970s
August 21, 1970 ― Typhoon Anita struck Shikoku as a major typhoon; 23 would be killed. August 5, 1971 ― Typhoon Olive would kill 69 people as it made landfall in Shikoku. August 29, 1971 ― Typhoon Trix would cause 44 deaths and US$50.6 million in damages as it affected Japan. September 7, 1971 ― Typhoon Virginia would skirt by the coast of Honshu as a tropical storm, leading to 56 deaths. July 20, 1972 ― Typhoon Rita would loop around the Ryukyu Islands, killing 3 people. September 16, 1972 ― Typhoon Helen would kill 87 and cause US$102 million in damages as it struck Honshu as a major typhoon. July 6, 1974 ― Typhoon Gilda, despite affecting Japan as a weak system, would kill 138 people. August 17, 1975 ― Typhoon Phyllis struck Shikoku, killing 88 and causing US$37 million in damage. August 21, 1975 ― Typhoon Rita left 33 dead and caused US$114 million in damages as it swept through Japan. September 9, 1976 ― Typhoon Fran would dump tremendous rainfall, killing 169 and causing US$660 million in damages. September 8, 1977 ― Typhoon Babe, known in Japan as the Okinoerabu Typhoon, would kill 23 people and leave US$23 million in damages in the Ryukyu Islands. October 19, 1979 ― Typhoon Tip, after reaching its remarkable peak intensity, would strike Japan as a minimal typhoon, killing 42 people and causing US$482.34 million in damages throughout the country.
1980s
September 11, 1980 ― Typhoon Orchid killed 53 in Kyushu as a moderate typhoon. August 23, 1981 ― Typhoon Thad killed 43 and left US$1.03 billion in damages across Japan. August 1, 1982 ― Typhoon Bess, a destructive storm, would kill 95 and cause US$2.38 billion in damage. September 25, 1982 ― Typhoon Ken killed 5 as it made landfall on Shikoku. August 17, 1983 ― A weakening Typhoon Abby struck Honshu, leaving 7 people dead and causing minimal damage. September 28, 1983 ― Typhoon Forrest hit Kyushu as a minimal typhoon, killing 21 people. June 30, 1985 ― Typhoon Irma struck Honshu, killing 19 people and inflicting US$545 million in damage. August 31, 1985 ― Typhoon Pat left 23 dead in Kyushu. August 3, 1986 ― The remnants of Tropical Storm Sarah killed 14 people. October 16, 1987 ― Typhoon Kelly would strike Japan, killing 9 and inflicting US$366 million in damages. July 27, 1989 ― Typhoon Judy hit Kyushu, leading to the deaths of 11 people and causing US$28.9 million in damages. September 19, 1989 ― Typhoon Wayne killed eight.
1990s
August 10, 1990 ― Typhoon Winona struck Honshu at peak intensity, killing one and inflicting US$60.3 million in damages. August 21, 1990 ― Typhoon Zola killed six and caused damages of US$104 million. September 19, 1990 ― Typhoon Flo struck Honshu, causing 40 deaths and US$918 million in damages. September 29, 1990 ― Typhoon Gene hit Japan as a minimal typhoon, killing 6 people and inflicting US$158 million in losses. October 7, 1990 ― Typhoon Hattie affected Japan after weakening to a tropical storm, killing 3 people and causing US$9.9 million in damage. November 30, 1990 ― The sixth and final storm to affect Japan in 1990, Typhoon Page resulted in 4 deaths and US$33 million in losses in Japan. July 27, 1991 ― Typhoon Caitlin, although bringing drought relief, killed six people and caused US$75 million in damages throughout Japan. August 22, 1991 ― Tropical Storm Gladys resulted in 23 fatalities and US$88.4 million in damages across Southern Japan. September 13, 1991 ― Typhoon Kinna killed 11 people and caused US$383 million in damage across Japan after hitting Kyushu at peak intensity. September 19, 1991 ― Tropical Storm Luke stayed offshore Japan but killed 12 people and caused US$179 million in damage. September 27, 1991 ― Typhoon Mireille made landfall near Hiroshima, becoming the costliest typhoon on record at the time. Mireille would kill 68 people and cause US$10 billion in damages throughout the country. July 1, 1992 ― Typhoon Bobbie impacted Japan, leading to US$27.2 million in damages. August 4, 1992 ― Tropical Storm Irving hit Shikoku and Kyushu, killing two people and causing US$4.74 million in losses. August 7, 1992 ― Typhoon Janis struck Kyushu, killing 12 people and inflicting US$584 million in damage. August 18, 1992 ― Typhoon Kent made landfall in Kyushu as a tropical storm, killing 8 people and causing US$15 million in losses. July 24, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Nathan left 47 people dead. July 27, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Ofelia moved over Japan, killing 13 and causing $197 million in damage. July 29, 1993 ― Tropical Storm Percy struck Kyushu at peak intensity, inflicting US$35.4 million in damages. August 9, 1993 ― Typhoon Robyn brushed the coast of Kyushu, resulting in the deaths of 9 people and damaged totaling US$92.3 million. September 3, 1993 ― Typhoon Yancy would make landfall in Kyushu as a major typhoon, killing 48 people and inflicting US$1.67 billion in losses. September 29, 1994 ― Typhoon Orchid caused 9 deaths in Honshu. September 17, 1995 ― Typhoon Oscar skirted past Honshu as a super typhoon, resulting in 8 fatalities and US$6.7 million in losses. September 23, 1995 ― Typhoon Ryan struck Kyushu as a borderline major typhoon, causing 5 deaths. July 18, 1996 ― Typhoon Eve would make a powerful landfall in Kyushu, although it would cause no fatalities.