Tokyo International News Agency

On the afternoon of August 5, a large tropical storm, Typhoon No. 15, formed in the waters near Wake Island and was assigned the Asian regional name "Chan-hom." Coming closely on the heels of Typhoon No. 14 ("Kujira"), which developed earlier that morning, and Typhoon No. 13 ("Dolphin"), three active typhoons are now swirling in the waters near Japan, creating a rare "triple typhoon" scenario. Following the weather announcement, the unique name "Chan-hom" immediately began trending on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Japanese netizens reacted with humorous posts, with many confessing that they initially misread the name as "champon"—a popular Japanese noodle dish—because they were hungry. Others took interest in the naming sequence, noting that while Typhoons 13 and 14 were named after marine life ("Dolphin" and "Kujira," the Japanese word for whale), "Chan-hom" broke the pattern by...

On August 5, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced that a developing tropical depression near Wake Island is expected to intensify into a typhoon within 24 hours. If it forms, it will mark the second typhoon of the month and be designated as Typhoon No. 15. The announcement triggered widespread concern on social media regarding the storm's potential trajectory and impact on travel and daily life. Coming just before the major Obon holiday and homecoming travel period, many people expressed anxiety over disrupted plans, grave visits, and potential cancellations of Shinkansen bullet trains and flights. Concerns also spread to major summer events, including the National High School Baseball Championship at Koshien Stadium, large outdoor music festivals, fan-made comic (doujinshi) conventions, and even routine medical appointments. While heightened caution surrounds forecasts indicating a potential approach or direct hit on Honshu and the Kanto region, many internet users are ...