ニュース 2026年10月24日午前04時00分
A typhoon approaching Japan's Sakishima Islands is forecast to bring gusts of up to 60 meters per second and waves as high as 12 meters on October 24, with the storm expected to track eastward and near Kyushu around Monday, October 26. The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging residents across Okinawa and western Japan to take strict precautions against violent winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall. Separately, a geothermal heating and cooling system developed by Akita University researchers began operation this month at the National Academy of Sciences in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offering a new path toward decarbonization in the energy-strained country.
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What this episode answers
How severe are the winds and waves the typhoon could bring to the Sakishima Islands?
Sustained winds of 45 meters per second and gusts of up to 60 meters per second are forecast for the Sakishima Islands on October 24—strong enough to partially collapse buildings—while wave heights are expected to reach 12 meters around the Sakishimas, 7 meters near the Okinawa main island, and 6 meters in the Amami region, with 24-hour rainfall totals projected at up to 250 millimeters in the worst-affected areas.
What track is the typhoon expected to follow after passing Okinawa?
The typhoon is expected to gradually turn eastward, approach Kyushu around Monday, October 26, and then transition into an extratropical cyclone, though the agency notes the forecast still carries some uncertainty.
How much rain is forecast for western and eastern Japan in the coming days?
As the typhoon tracks northward and intensifies frontal activity, the 24-hour rainfall total through the evening of October 24 is forecast at 250 millimeters for northern Kyushu, 120 millimeters for Kinki, and 100 millimeters for southern Kyushu; the following 24 hours through October 25 evening are expected to bring another 200 millimeters to northern Kyushu and 120 millimeters to the Hokuriku and Chugoku regions, with total accumulations potentially rising further through around Tuesday, October 27.
How does the geothermal heating and cooling system installed in Tajikistan work?
The system uses the fact that ground temperatures at a depth of roughly 100 meters remain at approximately 15 degrees Celsius year-round, harnessing the temperature difference between underground and the surface for heating in winter and cooling in summer; the system began operation this month at the National Academy of Sciences in Dushanbe.
Who is leading the Tajikistan project, and what are the plans going forward?
Professor Fumiaki Inagaki (稲垣文明) of Akita University has led the project for five years, with funding support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and JICA; plans are in place to install the system in a hospital near the capital, with hopes for eventual adoption in ordinary homes.
Typhoon Threatens Sakishima Islands with Extreme Winds and Waves
The approaching typhoon is forecast to bring sustained winds of 45 meters per second and gusts of up to 60 meters per second to the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture on October 24. The Japan Meteorological Agency warns that the winds may be violent enough to partially collapse buildings.
Wave heights are forecast at 12 meters around the Sakishima Islands, 7 meters in the Okinawa main island area, and 6 meters in the Amami region. Waters off Okinawa Prefecture and the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture are expected to become extremely rough, with heavy swells compounding the already dangerous wave heights.
Risk of Linear Precipitation Bands and Severe Rainfall Damage
Very heavy rain accompanied by lightning is expected across Okinawa Prefecture. The Sakishima Islands in particular face the risk of linear precipitation bands forming through the early hours of October 24, which could cause disaster risk to escalate sharply. The 24-hour rainfall total through the evening of the 24th is forecast at up to 250 millimeters in the heaviest-hit areas of the Sakishimas.
The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging strict vigilance against storm surges, high waves, and violent winds, as well as landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and rising river levels brought on by heavy rain. Residents are asked to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary and to spend time in locations as safe as possible.
The Typhoon's Future Track and Its Impact on Western and Eastern Japan
The typhoon is expected to gradually shift eastward, approach Kyushu around Monday, October 26, and then transition into an extratropical cyclone. The agency notes, however, that there remains some uncertainty in the forecast, and residents are advised to monitor the latest updates.
As the typhoon pushes northward, frontal activity is expected to intensify, bringing locally very heavy rainfall to western and eastern Japan on October 24. The 24-hour total through the evening of the 24th is forecast at 250 millimeters in northern Kyushu, 120 millimeters in the Kinki region, and 100 millimeters in southern Kyushu. For the 24 hours through the evening of October 25, northern Kyushu is expected to receive a further 200 millimeters, while the Hokuriku and Chugoku regions are forecast 120 millimeters each. Total accumulated rainfall may climb even higher through around Tuesday, October 27. People across western and eastern Japan are also urged to stay alert for landslides, flooding, and swollen rivers, and to check the latest weather information frequently.
Geothermal Heating and Cooling System Demonstrated in Tajikistan
At the National Academy of Sciences in Dushanbe, the capital of the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, a geothermal heating and cooling system began operation this month. On October 23 (local time), the system was demonstrated to government officials from the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and other agencies.
The technology exploits a simple physical fact: ground temperatures at a depth of approximately 100 meters remain at a near-constant 15 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The temperature difference between underground and the surface is used for heating in winter and for cooling in summer. Professor Fumiaki Inagaki (稲垣文明) of Akita University has led the project for the past five years, with support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
High Hopes for Decarbonization and Easing the Electricity Shortage
In Tajikistan, electricity supply falls short during winter when heating demand peaks, and coal is widely used in schools, hospitals, and private homes alike. With energy security, decarbonization, and air pollution all pressing concerns, expectations for the new system are considerable.
With Japanese support, plans are already in place to install the system in a hospital near the capital, and wider adoption in ordinary homes is hoped for in the longer term. Professor Inagaki commented: "I hope this technology will spread among the people of Tajikistan, and that they will eventually be able to manufacture it themselves. I want to keep raising awareness and improving recognition of what this system can do."
Takeaways
- The typhoon is forecast to bring gusts of 60 meters per second and 12-meter waves to the Sakishima Islands on October 24, with linear precipitation bands raising the risk of landslides and severe flooding.
- The storm is expected to approach Kyushu around October 26 before weakening into an extratropical cyclone, but heavy rain will continue to threaten western and eastern Japan through at least October 27.
- Akita University, JST, and JICA have launched a geothermal heating and cooling system in Tajikistan, with expansion to a nearby hospital planned and hopes for eventual adoption in private homes to address the country's energy shortage and decarbonization goals.
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.