What is a typhoon?

If you live in Japan, you often hear the word "typhoon" every summer and autumn. A typhoon is a natural disaster that brings heavy rain and strong winds. Every year, several typhoons approach or make landfall in Japan. [Typhoon? Hurricane? Cyclone?] The word "typhoon" is a term often used in Japan and Asia.

In the summer, you can often see people walking around Japanese towns and festivals wearing yukatas. Yukatas are traditional Japanese summer clothing. They are more casual and easier to wear than kimonos, so they have recently become popular with many foreign tourists. [What kind of clothing is a yukata?] 〇 They are worn by cinching the waist with a piece of fabric called an obi. 〇 They are made of light and breathable materials such as cotton or linen.

Have you ever heard the term "homecoming rush" in the Japanese news? The reason why Japanese people return to their hometowns en masse during this time of year when bullet trains, airplanes, and highways are extremely crowded is related to a special time called "Obon." Obon is a time when it is believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors return to this world.