Typhoon Dujuan: 275 flights cancelled and flood warnings in Japan

A powerful severe weather system triggered widespread disruption across eastern Japan on Monday, 21 September 2026, as authorities issued urgent warnings for floods and landslides while hundreds of flights were grounded.

The system approached the Tokyo metropolitan area while packing maximum sustained winds around 144 kilometers per hour, according to reporting highlighted by DW. Forecasters tracked the storm moving northeast along the Pacific coast after lingering near the Izu Islands. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) placed the northern part of the Izu chain under a level 5 emergency warning, representing the absolute peak of the country's alert scale and denoting a life-threatening scenario.

Media additions

Evacuation advisories affected more than one million individuals initially, with the Fire and Disaster Management Agency later putting the total figure of residents urged to flee across multiple prefectures at over 1.6 million, as reported by Il Sole 24 ORE. Officials emphasized that these evacuation directives were non-mandatory, though local governments stressed the growing dangers of rising water and unstable terrain.

Transport networks sustained heavy blows throughout the region. As detailed by Beninwebtv, at least 275 flights were scrapped, consisting of domestic services and international routes. Regional rail operators also stepped in to halt operations. East Japan Railway Company suspended services on several lines in Chiba Prefecture, including a full-day closure of the Kururi Line running between Kisarazu and Kazusa-Kameyama, alongside partial shutdowns on the Uchibo and Sotobo lines.

Power infrastructure suffered amid the deteriorating conditions. Reports indicated that thousands of households lost electricity, particularly in Chiba Prefecture east of Tokyo, where power cuts affected thousands of homes according to Ibtimes, alongside outages extending into Saitama and Shizuoka prefectures noted by Il Sole 24 ORE.

Meteorologists warned of unprecedented precipitation totals. Takuya Hosomi of the JMA told reporters that ongoing rainfall risks persisting as the weather system tracks north, a sentiment echoed in broader coverage by the Hindustan Times. The agency cautioned that total rainfall amounts through Tuesday could easily outpace September averages, threatening record-breaking downpours.

International travel adjustments rippled outward from the hub airports. According to The Straits Times, budget carrier Scoot rescheduled four specific flights connecting Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo Narita, offering affected passengers the option to rebook or claim full refunds. Meanwhile, political schedules also felt the strain; Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delayed a planned departure for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly by four hours due to the storm.

On-the-ground impacts included structural damage and injuries. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency recorded multiple damaged homes in Chiba, including structures that suffered partial submergence. In Sodegaura, a woman in her forties sustained minor injuries after driving her vehicle into landslide debris, while emergency services in Yokosuka launched rescue operations after mud breached a residential property. Visual evidence shared across digital platforms highlighted flooded thoroughfares around Kamakura station, prompting Kamakura City Mayor Takashi Matsuo to issue warnings on social media advising citizens that driving had become perilous.

Cultural and sporting fixtures were heavily curtailed. The Tokyo Game Show, hosted at Makuhari Messe in Chiba and slated as a historic five-day public event, was shut down for its final day. Organizers from the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association shifted remaining official programs to online streams. Additionally, an outdoor music festival and a baseball match in Chiba were called off, and equestrian eventing organizers at the Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture postponed competition until Tuesday.

The severe weather arriving during Japan's "Silver Week" holiday period amplified risks for travelers and heightened public discourse regarding nationwide disaster preparedness. Analysts note that such events continue to spur consumer demand for portable emergency equipment, mobile flood barriers, and resilient infrastructure.

What to Watch Next

• Meteorological authorities will monitor the storm's transition as it accelerates east-northeastward and undergoes extratropical decay over the north-west Pacific.
• Local municipalities in Kanto, Tokai, and Tohoku will assess structural damage and manage recovery operations as floodwaters recede.
• Transportation hubs are expected to restore regular scheduling incrementally as airlines and rail operators clear backlogs of delayed passengers.