Today's print edition Home Delivery The Tokyo High Court basically upheld Wednesday a lower court ruling ordering the government to pay damages to residents in Ibaraki Prefecture hit by the 2015 Kinugawa river flooding residents in flooded areas along the river claimed that the government's inadequate river management caused the vast disaster seeking damages totaling about ¥220 million.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); determined that the government is partially responsible and ordered the payment of some ¥28 million in damages to the plaintiffs down from about ¥39 million ordered by the Mito District Court Nakamura acknowledged that water overflowed from the river in the Wakamiyado and Kamimisaka districts of the city of Joso due to torrential rain caused by a typhoon The judge pointed out that the Wakamiyado flood damage should be attributed to the government's failure to protect a dune that was acting as a natural embankment from being excavated in a private-sector development project But he reduced the compensation order after reevaluating damage to household chattels Nakamura brushed aside the plaintiffs' claim that the government should take the blame for delaying its levee-raising work "Nothing particularly unreasonable was found in the levee renovation program." "I feel like we're losers because the high court's ruling is worse than the district court's," Kazumi Katakura expressing intention to appeal to the Supreme Court An infrastructure ministry official in charge of the lawsuit said the ministry will appropriately respond to the latest court decision after consulting with other parties concerned In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Honda’s CiKoMa ride-in micro-mobility vehicle and WaPOCHI micro-mobility robot are developed for solving issues such as transportation in areas suffering from driver shortage due to decreasing population and door-to-door mobility for families with small children and for senior citizens Honda kicked off technology demonstration testing in the end of 2022 which has progressed in 2024 to be able to offer the locals opportunities to experience the technologies This article features an interview with the developers about feedback from testing Involved in development of the purification system of diesel engine exhaust Engaged with development of the autonomous driving system for passenger cars from 2016 Currently responsible for development of Honda’s CI-powered ride-in micro-mobility technologies Engaged in development of CI-powered micro-mobility technologies from 2021 after involved in research of autonomous functions for driving on public roads for standard automobiles What is the expected use of CiKoMa ride-in micro-mobility vehicle in everyday life What kind of micro-mobility robot is WaPOCHI Please tell us why the technology demonstration testing is taking place in Joso City Good synergy is created based on the vision shared by Honda and Joso City to better the city with the help of new technologies Joso City officials are really willing to cooperate with us Even though we come from entities of different natures; a local government and private company I feel that the project is driven by the human relationship after all *Ride-hailing service dispatching fully autonomous and unmanned vehicles without the need for drivers What is planned specifically in the technology demonstration testing *Research and maintenance base for technology demonstration testing within the Agri-science Valley Joso where bookings of CiKoMa are handled and research achievements are displayed The full-fledged technology demonstration testing on WaPOCHI will start progressively from February 2024 as well the prototype has to be tried for movements on the test site for the final tune-up based on the reaction of visitors from the city What are Honda’s uniqueness and strength that you perceive in the process of the technology demonstration testing Because both CiKoMa and WaPOCHI are unprecedently new mobility products to the world As Honda values a “Three Realities Principle” of place we believe that real challenges will be exposed only when a technology demonstration testing is conducted on an actual product at an actual place thanks to the cooperation extended by Joso City the development is progressing in a speedy manner It is Honda’s uniqueness that all the development team members can act at the same speed based on the Three Realities Principle What are the challenges emerged once the technology demonstration testing has started We have been actively trying to reduce anxiety of the locals as much as possible for about a year Some of our efforts include the already mentioned display of Honda’s activities at the Honda ASV-Lab and lectures at local high schools using a prototype We also took CiKoMa to community festivals to demonstrate the product especially from students and small kids who listened to our presentation with a twinkle in their eyes; moreover older people encouraged us please tell us your dreams to achieve through the development of CiKoMa and WaPOCHI The most apparent benefit of WaPOCHI is that it carries belongings for the user but I hope people go for a walk with it because it is fun to stroll with it I aim for changing people’s lives in both the aspects of enhancing freedom and fun of walking I saw a Honda solar car running on the street It impressed me; that’s why I decided to become an engineer It is my pleasure if children who watch our mobility products in Joso City would aspire to be an engineer 5 or 10 years later Some of today’s students will lead the research and development of the leading-edge AI technologies in the near future I anticipate that this technology demonstration testing will be an inspiration for them This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Floodwaters from the burst Kinugawa River (left) flow into a residential area (right) in Joso Houses were washed away and people raced to high ground in central Japan on Thursday after a major river burst through a levee overwhelmed by torrential rains The Kinugawa River's banks collapsed around midday Nearby areas also sustained severe flooding and mudslides; the government has urged 130,000 people to evacuate the area shows helicopters being used to pluck people from balconies and rooftops as muddy water rages beneath them Japan's Land Infrastructure agency says "the water covers as much as 37 square kilometers [14 square miles]," NHK News reports "They say the break in the levee was initially 20 meters [65 feet] long — then grew to 80 meters." The authorities say nearly 7,000 buildings may have been flood-damaged in Joso alone Media reports of potential casualties say at least one person is missing and that three are seriously injured but with at least three ruptures along the river officials have not yet given a full account of the human toll Within hours of the breach, about 2,500 people had been taken to shelters, but the high volume of water flooded two of those shelters, The Japan Times reports The intense flooding was fueled by heavy rain from Typhoon Etau submerged train tracks and also cut off power to thousands of households Floodwaters also "overwhelmed the drainage pumps at the Fukushima nuclear plant," Japan Times reports spokesman who said the flooding sent "hundreds of tons of contaminated water" into the ocean Become an NPR sponsor You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Joso and Angelina Spralja at their new home in Zadar This 11th century Medival fort became their studio Joso Spralja made three folk albums with Malka Himel in the 1960s Joso Spralja changed the way Toronto ate — from popularizing simplistic techniques to reportedly introducing fried calamari to the city His charisma made Joso’s a hot spot for celebrity patrons such as Barbra Streisand to Drake a renowned folk musician who went on to found Yorkville seafood restaurant Joso’s The painter-sculptor-photographer-vocalist-guitarist-restaurateur was a success starting in the 1960s when he ran a coffee house/art gallery at 71 Yorkville Ave Where strength meets whimsy Spralja then moved Joso’s to a converted Victorian semi at 202 Davenport Rd. it has remained a favourite of well-heeled locals and visiting celebrities “Toronto lost a giant in the hospitality industry He will never be forgotten,” said longtime friend and interior designer Sasha Josipovicz Joso’s was one of the first in the city to grill whole fish with just olive oil and lemon juice Such simplicity at a time of stodgy cream sauces was a wake-up call for Toronto diners they also found risotto stained black by cuttlefish ink which Spralja claimed to have introduced to the city they liked it,” Spralja told the Star in 2000 Joso’s also became known for its nude art: Sculpted and painted breasts everywhere “He was breastfed until he was almost 5,” daughter-in-law Shirley Spralja told the Star in 2005 The titillating decor includes a voluptuous torso in the main window “with big hooters that seems like the second-best Toronto landmark after the CN Tower,” said award-winning food blog First We Feast after Drake name-checked Joso’s in his 2013 song “5AM in Toronto.” Also on the walls are photographs of celebrity diners such as Italian film star Marcello Mastroianni “Joso — for all of his ‘charisma’ and charm — had the rare which he did tirelessly and genuinely,” Bobby Sniderman of The Senator restaurant told the Star in an email “That was the true gift of not just his success as a restaurateur but as a person,” said Sniderman When Barbra Streisand came for dinner in 1988 Spralja asked Josipoviczto sit nearby to block curious stares I did spill tomato sauce all over me as my nerves eventually took over (A) few days later Joso called: ‘Robert De Niro is coming over for dinner.’ ” Josipovicz told the Star in an email He came to Toronto in 1961 to visit relatives and liked it enough to immigrate Wife Angiolina and children Leo and Elena joined him in 1964 Spralja and partner Malka Himel made three albums hosted a CBC-TV music show and performed four times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson using the top floor of his namesake restaurant as a studio After retiring from running Joso’s in 1997 Spralja moved back to Zadar and built a home incorporatinga 12th-century castle Leo and daughter-in-law Shirley now run the restaurant “There was metaphorically always room at his table Amy Pataki is a former restaurant critic for the Star Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account one of Japan's largest logistics companies is the latest customer to sign a major lease at Goodman Joso The building is Goodman Japan's newest and largest logistics facility we reaffirm our commitment to delivering best in class logistics solutions for our customers We take great pride in providing high-quality and sustainable logistics developments that cater to businesses' evolving needs and this facility embodies our dedication to excellence." Senior Managing Officer of Senko commented "We've chosen Goodman Joso as it perfectly caters to the diverse logistics needs of our freight customers and its expansive floor plate This move marks the first step towards expanding our network into the eastern Kanto region as part of our mid-term business plan Goodman Joso's excellent access to the Hitachinaka Port makes it an ideal hub for connecting logistics operations in Japan and overseas "We already lease a significant amount of space in Goodman Business Park in Inzai City Our employees highly appreciate the employee-friendly amenities in these facilities creating a comfortable and motivating work environment Goodman Joso offers even more appealing amenities and excels as a community-oriented project with an array of attractive facilities and surroundings We look forward to the continued close collaboration between our company and Goodman in the future." The facility's prime positioning near Senko's Kashiwa branch and the Ken-O Expressway provides access to tens of millions of consumers playing a crucial role in the company selecting Goodman Joso The location delivers seamless connectivity to major transportation routes optimising supply chain operations and facilitating efficient movement of goods "Already one of our highly valued customers in Japan this latest agreement between Goodman and Senko reflects our shared vision of providing innovative and efficient logistics solutions to our respective customers We are committed to supporting Senko's growth and success through the world-class facilities and services offered at Goodman Joso and throughout our portfolio." Goodman Joso is one of the landmarks of the Joso area The area is evolving into a city where people want to work and visit Innovative and market-leading sustainability features are integrated throughout Goodman Joso which have been externally verified Goodman Joso has achieved the highest rank BELS (ZEB) certification acknowledging its exceptional energy performance It also achieved the highest rank CASBEE S certification for its sustainable building practices The facility harnesses renewable energy sources to help customers manage their carbon footprint including 4.25MW of solar power for self-usage in addition to battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support the transition to low carbon transport For more information, please visit https://jp.goodman.com/en/property-lease-site/goodman-joso  Goodman Group is a global industrial property specialist group with operations in key consumer markets across Australia comprised of the stapled entities Goodman Limited Goodman Industrial Trust and Goodman Logistics (HK) Limited is the largest property group on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: GMG) and one of the largest listed specialist investment managers of industrial property globally Goodman provides essential infrastructure for the digital economy by owning and managing high-quality sustainable properties that are close to consumers in key cities around the world Our property portfolio includes logistics and distribution centres investing significantly alongside our capital partners in our investment management platform and concentrating our portfolio where we can create the most value for customers and investors For more information visit: www.goodman.com For more information visit http://jp.goodman.com/en Do not sell or share my personal information: TOKYO, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodman Group has signed a major leasing commitment with Adastria Co. Ltd one of Japan's largest apparel companies at Goodman Joso Goodman Joso (artist impression) "This agreement highlights the exceptional quality design and strategic location of Goodman Joso and underscores the strong demand we're seeing for this property," said Angus Brooks Goodman Joso will cater to Adastria's growing operational needs as its stable of brands grows enabling efficient supply chain management and enhancing its ability to serve customers effectively." Logistics Division at Adastria said: "The strategic location of Goodman Joso within the newly developed community district of Joso City and its focus on employee-friendly amenities and sustainability It also offers an ideal logistics location and environment to support Adastria's medium to long-term logistics network strategy We are committed to creating a 'Good Community' in collaboration with all stakeholders and value establishing strong connections with the local community while ensuring a safe and comfortable working environment for our employees" Goodman Joso will be the largest logistics facility in Japan for Goodman Group With a gross lettable area of 174,000 square meters spread across five storeys this facility sets a new benchmark in logistics infrastructure Located adjacent to the Joso Interchange on the Ken-O Expressway it offers exceptional connectivity throughout the Greater Tokyo area Within a 60-minute drive from Tokyo's Central Business District Goodman Joso provides excellent access to a vast consumer base of tens of millions Goodman Group is establishing a new business park providing room to expand within the precinct for customers as their businesses grow Like Goodman's flagship master-planned estate Goodman Joso is an integrated development with a newly-built retail and amenity facility designed to create a modern and vibrant townscape providing an array of conveniences for employees and the local community Goodman's strong commitment to sustainability is evident at Goodman Joso with a number of innovative and market-leading features Leveraging 4.25MW of solar power for self-usage in addition to battery storage the facility harnesses renewable energy sources to help customers manage their carbon footprint Goodman Joso offers electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to support the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation solutions These sustainability credentials have been externally verified with Goodman Joso obtaining the highest rank BELS (ZEB) certification For more information, please visit https://jp.goodman.com/en/property-lease-site/goodman-joso Goodman Group is a global industrial property specialist group with operations in key consumer markets across  Australia For more information visit: www.goodman.com For more information visit http://jp.goodman.com/en Sign In Subscribe Now A high school from Japan has made their return to B.C. this time choosing Surrey for the very first time Forty-five students from Joso Gakuin High School in Ibaraki Japan spent part of spring break in Surrey — the school’s first time to B.C The students were here from March 24 to April 1 taking in the sights around the city and surrounding areas and squeezing in some Easter activities “The experience was truly enlightening for them and they are happy to be part of the community,” said Risa Shafi a group supervisor from Muskoka Language International Homestay (MLI) MLI provides services for international students with Shafi’s department offering supports for students staying in Canada short-term including setting them up in homes with host families This particular group of students were interested in learning about leadership in Surrey The students spent most of their days at Surrey Christian School worked on communication and became informed on how to be “well-rounded global leaders.” ALSO READ: Surrey student says $100K Loran Scholarship is ‘life-changing’ The students also had a volunteer experience spending a day at the Guru Nanak Food Bank in Surrey Students from Joso Gakuin would typically stay in North Vancouver but Shafi said it’s become difficult to find enough host families for such a large group with a total of 23 families offering space in their homes “Home stay is harder to find now than ever before because people started working from home … Bedrooms that were available before are not available now because they became a home office and things like that,” Shafi explained “They weren’t sure about the program because they had never been to Surrey before – they used to come to North Vancouver – so it was good that the host families from the community were very warm.” Students had a chance to enjoy personal time outside of the classroom — shopping or visiting parks and beaches with their host families and more and a lot of the students were in tears having a hard time saying goodbye to the host families,” Shafi said A farewell party was thrown on March 28 before the last day “The students really enjoyed their time in the community and are already planning to return in 2025 Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines The central government on Friday updated its guidelines for disaster shelter operations with the update calling for ensuring there is one toilet for every 20 people The update follows the massive earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan people had difficulty using toilets and sleeping.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); the guidelines call for setting up one unit for every 50 people initially and one unit for every 20 people later The guidelines also suggest one bathing unit for every 50 people Living space of at least 3.5 square meters per person is recommended to accommodate a cardboard bed and other items The guidelines emphasize the need for hot meals for disaster victims "We will work to ensure the same level of shelter conditions wherever a disaster occurs," Manabu Sakai In News by Porter AndersonMarch 12 the Comic Art Europe project announces its first winners and is taking entries for its summer training camp By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson The first summer camp training event is expected to be set at the school named Escola Joso in Barcelona, July 4 to 10. Participation is open to citizens of the 27 European Union and the United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Georgia, Moldavia, Ukraine, Tunisia, Armenia, Kosovo, and Lichtenstein. In issuing its first call for the competition phase of its work, the program had some 200 submissions from 32 countries. The theme of the call was “Visions of Tomorrow,” and here are the five winners: Those winners receive a €5,000 grant (US$5,962) and a two-week artist’s residency in one of four cities partnering on the project—Lyon, Brussels, Barcelona, and Kendal. Their work also can be considered for exhibition and presentation at festivals staged by the project partners in 2022. Escola Joso, a school specialized in comic arts, is one of the partners in the Comic Art Europe initiative: Image: Escola Joso The summer camp element of the program now is accepting applications to March 30 Comics creators aged 18 to 25 are eligible The summer program is meant “to improve the adaptation of the student’s abilities to the language of the environment and to help them achieve their professional goals A range of key factors will be examined: formats We will review both the mass comics industry and the independent sector and what the creator needs to know about copyright issues “We cannot consider applications from professional comics creators and it is not mandatory to be a former student.” Accompanying literature indicates that the program is most interested in those who may have finished their regular studies “and are considering turning professional” in the business of comics This program is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme, an initiative of the EU. Lyon BD Organization, established in 2005, is one of the partners in the Comic Art Europe initiative: Image: Lyon BD More from Publishing Perspectives on comics is here, more on graphic novels is here, and more on the European markets is here More from us on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international book publishing is here Porter Anderson has been named International Trade Press Journalist of the Year in London Book Fair's International Excellence Awards He is Editor-in-Chief of Publishing Perspectives He formerly was Associate Editor for The FutureBook at London's The Bookseller Anderson was for more than a decade a senior producer and anchor with CNN.com which now is owned and operated by Jane Friedman “Unprecedented rain in Japan unleashed heavy floods on Friday that tore houses from their foundations, uprooted trees, and forced more than 100,000 people from their homes,” according to Reuters One person was missing after rivers burst their banks in cities north of Tokyo following days of heavy rain The Japan Meteorological Agency issued special downpour warnings for Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com A collection of winning and honored images from this year’s nature-photo competition A collection of amazing recent images made with the Hubble Space Telescope Mourners of Pope Francis gathered at the Vatican scenes from the the second weekend of Coachella 2025 and landscapes of the Earth’s arctic and subarctic regions This article was published more than 11 years ago Server Izabela Lewandowsk will debone your fish tableside if you ask her.Peter Power/The Globe and Mail There are two things that everybody who knows about Joso's knows about Joso's which has stood for the past 36 years near the corner of Avenue and Davenport roads The decor around Joso's two-storey space – the unchaste watercolours and oils; the signed Picasso and Dali dirties from the 1970s; the randy folk-art collages; the black and white photo of the statuesque fishnet-wrapped blonde on the beach; the pendulous-in-another-life bronzes and the anatomically impossible ceramic and soapstone statues – well The second thing that those in the know know is that Joso's is often mobbed with A-list musicians and Hollywood stars the Toronto-raised hip-hop king and a Joso's regular had the cover of Take Care shot at a corner table in the second-floor dining room David Cronenberg courted Maria Bello here for her starring role in A History of Violence When Mick Jagger came for dinner a few weeks ago that he hadn't initially been able to remember the name of the place from a previous visit Jagger described it to some local friends as "the restaurant with the really big boobs and the really good fish." They knew exactly what he meant is Joso's third and much less well-known calling card To my mind it is also the restaurant's most compelling – particularly now lobster shacks and upstart seafood restaurants proliferate around Toronto a city that's often been written off as "not a seafood town." (It is quickly becoming one.) Among the more promising of the newest entrants is preparing to open two much-anticipated seafood rooms in the Financial District and one of the chefs behind the former Cowbell has plans to turn the location into a fish house called Geraldine They would be wise to get past the T and A – yes For seafood that's unfailingly fresh and cooked with a minimum of fuss or intervention Joso's is perhaps the greatest non-sushi seafood spot in town without cause to hide behind excessive flavourings or sauce The selection recently included Dover sole from Holland glistening John Dory and squash-faced baby Atlantic halibut That is what supremely fresh whole fish costs The seasonings are in most cases limited to lemon juice The fish is flame-grilled to just past medium so that the skin chars in spots and the flesh turns firm and sweet and just perceptibly smoky Spralja said she dreams of a day when customers do the job themselves so that they can slow down and think about the food and experience the fish in all of its glory The whole sardines are everything a fish-lover could hope for in a plate of sardines They are mildly sweet and clean-tasting and sizzly – sardines without the sardine pong A whole $83 halibut was similarly impressive: meaty and fresh-tasting enough that it might have been grilled over a fire on a rocky beach on the Atlantic coast The insalata di mare is one of the best I've had: oil-poached monkfish grilled octopus and sweet shrimp tossed in oil and lemon The spaghettini Leonardo includes diced octopus and shrimp with capers pesce fritti as you almost never find them is a product not merely of ingredients but also of labour and tradition They were immigrants from Croatia; Angiolina brought most of the recipes with her as well as in Venice and elsewhere in the region It quickly became one of Joso's signature dishes And so now Leo is in charge of the kitchen supervising the cooks as they stir the rice with broth and red wine to shake off its starch Leo pulls the ink sacs from whole cuttlefish to make a week's worth of the finishing sauce that turns the dish so strikingly black that makes it taste as real as a maritime fog That risotto nero is an extraordinary dish or steamed chard (under-seasoned when I had it) or basmati rice or a zucchini and tomatoes number that's similar to ratatouille you don't care that the sides are priced exorbitantly You also don't care that a negroni costs $18 Its flavour is reminiscent of Pez orange candy Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Officials in Japan confirmed an eighth fatality Wednesday in the wake of disastrous flooding unleashed by torrential rainfall that hit the eastern and northern parts of the country in the wake of Tropical Storm Etau earlier this month Fourteen of the 15 people reported missing in the Japanese city hardest-hit by last week's floods and landslides were reported safe and accounted for on Tuesday and the 15th name on the list proved to be there in error marking the end of the search and rescue effort in a region still reeling from the deaths and a heavy toll of material losses in the wake of Tropical Storm Etau The 15 people had been reported missing in Joso city where a levee was breached by the swollen Kinugawa River as unprecedented rainfall struck parts of eastern and northern Japan last Wednesday Public broadcaster NHK said one of the names on the list was the result of a "telephone lie," but also cited experts who put forth other possible explanations for the mixup which lasted only a few hours after the other 14 people had been reported alive and safe more than 2,700 people were still in evacuation shelters their homes in varying states of disrepair as more rain moved in (MORE: Mount Aso Volcano Erupts in Western Japan) Much of the devastation occurred in three prefectures – Tochigi and Ibaraki neighboring prefectures in the northern part of the Greater Tokyo region; and Miyagi a prefecture on the Pacific coast of northern Japan devastated by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami The tally of homes flooded but not structurally damaged in last week's deluge exceeded that of the 2011 calamity topping 18,000 in a government report Tuesday afternoon the number of homes destroyed or structurally damaged in the disaster – 118 – pales in comparison to the catastrophe four and a half years ago which destroyed 124,690 homes and damaged another 1,039,961 in what remains the world's costliest natural disaster of all time Here are the latest statistics from the Japanese government's Fire and Disaster Management Agency and other national and local governments as of Friday The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a rare emergency heavy rainfall warning for Miyagi Prefecture and its 2.3 million residents early Friday as torrential rains continued to drench the prefecture raising concerns of landslides and river flooding The JMA observation site near Sendai's central business district reported 269 millimeters (10.59 inches) of rain in the 24-hour period between 7:40 a.m Eastern Daylight Time.) JMA lowered the warning for Miyagi Friday evening "We can say this is an abnormal situation and there is imminent serious danger," said Takuya Deshimaru chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency On Thursday, JMA issued similar emergency weather warnings for 5 million people in Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture The warnings were issued as a band of heavy rainfall associated with the post-tropical remnant of Tropical Storm Etau stalled over eastern Japan dumping up to 21 inches of rain in 24 hours near the head of the Kunigawa River which drains south through the northern suburbs of Tokyo The emergency warnings in Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures were lowered Friday morning the Kinugawa River breached a levee in the city of Joso Prefectural government officials there said 22 people were missing due to the flooding and hundreds of others were still awaiting rescue Friday morning All of the missing have since been accounted for but it took several days to rescue all of the stranded residents JMA had already issued its highest level of flood warning for the Kinugawa River Thursday morning before the breach occurred Japan's Self-Defense Force sent helicopters to the scene plucking a number of people from rooftops and the top stories of homes near the stricken levee Japanese television stations broadcast some of the dramatic scenes live as they happened during the early afternoon hours Thursday two people were seen struggling to cling to the roof of what appeared to be a garage or shed as the structure began to crumble beneath them and collapse into the raging floodwaters streamed live on the website houdoukyoku.jp quickly cut away from the images to show its in-studio anchors The fate of the couple is not immediately clear The scenes played out again Friday morning as SDF helicopters plucked more victims standing on rooftops underneath sunnier skies Efforts continued by helicopter and by ground Saturday even as an earthquake centered in Tokyo Bay rattled the flood zone with moderate ground shaking when two men were found dead in rice paddies – the first confirmed fatalities in the Joso levee breach incident images broadcast on national television showed much of the built-up portion of Joso had dried out but crews were still working to pump standing water from flooded rice fields back into the Kinugawa and its tributaries Efforts to repair the compromised section of levee were also well underway According to the Tochigi Prefecture government a landslide early Thursday in the city of Kanuma left one person dead and another person injured Kanuma reported 444 millimeters (17.48 inches) of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 6 a.m local time Thursday; in records that began in 1976 this was more than double the city's previous 24-hour record of 212 mm (8.35 inches) set July 11 The incident was one of 41 landslides reported by the prefectural government One home each was damaged in two of the landslides and 11 people were trapped but later rescued in another of the incidents The government said five people were stranded in Nikkō due to flooding on a local river Wednesday night; firefighters rescued them around daybreak Thursday The rain was extraordinarily heavy in and around the city of Nikkō a popular tourist destination in Tochigi Prefecture JMA's observation side in that city's Imaichi district recorded 668.0 millimeters (26.30 inches) of rain Sunday through Thursday 541 mm (21.30 inches) fell within a 24-hour period Wednesday and early Thursday The nearby Ikari observation site in Nikkō city logged 551 mm (21.69 inches) of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 6:30 a.m Thursday; that was the highest 24-hour rainfall total anywhere in Japan during the storm Those sites' 24-hour rainfall totals were the highest ever recorded since rainfall measurements began there in the late 1970s – and the 24-hour totals alone at both sites were greater than the previous 72-hour rainfall records for each location The same is true of several other nearby sites – a sign of just how extreme the rainfall has been Voluntary evacuations became mandatory in some locales as the rain continued and rivers rose about 192,000 people were ordered to evacuate at some point during the tropical storm and ensuing floods At least 15,000 people remained under orders to stay out of flooded areas in and near the city of Joso as of Monday morning Most of the voluntary evacuation advisories which covered 3.1 million people during various stages of the storm Fewer than 3,000 people were still under voluntary evacuations Monday morning Tropical Storm Etau affected many other areas of Japan prior to and during its landfall Here's a wrap of its impacts Tuesday and Wednesday: Etau formed early Monday (Japan time) about 1,000 miles due south of Tokyo It has been moving in a generally northward direction ever since the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the center of Tropical Storm Etau had made landfall on the Chita Peninsula of Aichi Prefecture shortly after 10 a.m The landfall point was about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Nagoya the center of Japan's third-largest metropolitan area JMA said Etau became a post-tropical low-pressure center at 9 p.m the top reported sustained wind on land was 22.8 meters per second (51.0 mph) at 9:47 p.m local time at Cape Erimo on Japan's northernmost major island The top gust was 30.9 m/s (69.1 mph) at 5:03 a.m local time Wednesday on the small island of Kozushima Tropical Storm Etau was known as "Typhoon No where tropical cyclones are typically referred to by number rather than name and "typhoon" is used for all systems of tropical-storm or higher strength The name "Etau" was also given to a tropical storm that drenched Japan in 2009 killing 28 people and flooding thousands of homes MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Tropical Storm Etau Strikes Japan (PHOTOS) We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview Fourteen of the 15 people reported missing in the Japanese city hardest-hit by last week's floods and landslides were reported safe and accounted for on Tuesday Public broadcaster NHK said one of the names on the list was the result of a \\\"telephone lie,\\\" but also cited experts who put forth other possible explanations for the mixup (MORE: Mount Aso Volcano Erupts in Western Japan) Much of the devastation occurred in three prefectures \u2013 Tochigi and Ibaraki a prefecture on the Pacific coast of northern Japan devastated by the 2011 T\u014Dhoku earthquake and tsunami The tally of homes flooded but not structurally damaged in last week's deluge exceeded that of the 2011 calamity the number of homes destroyed or structurally damaged in the disaster \u2013 118 \u2013 pales in comparison to the catastrophe four and a half years ago which destroyed 124,690 homes and damaged another 1,039,961 in what remains the world's costliest natural disaster of all time Here are the latest statistics from the Japanese government's Fire and Disaster Management Agency and other national and local governments as of Friday The JMA observation site near Sendai's central business district reported 269 millimeters (10.59 inches) of rain in the 24-hour period between 7:40 a.m \\\"We can say this is an abnormal situation and there is imminent serious danger,\\\" said Takuya Deshimaru On Thursday, JMA issued similar emergency weather warnings for 5 million people in Tochigi Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture Japan's Self-Defense Force sent helicopters to the scene when two men were found dead in rice paddies \u2013 the first confirmed fatalities in the Joso levee breach incident this was more than double the city's previous 24-hour record of 212 mm (8.35 inches) set July 11 The government said five people were stranded in Nikk\u014D due to flooding on a local river Wednesday night; firefighters rescued them around daybreak Thursday The rain was extraordinarily heavy in and around the city of Nikk\u014D JMA's observation side in that city's Imaichi district recorded 668.0 millimeters (26.30 inches) of rain Sunday through Thursday The nearby Ikari observation site in Nikk\u014D city logged 551 mm (21.69 inches) of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 6:30 a.m Those sites' 24-hour rainfall totals were the highest ever recorded since rainfall measurements began there in the late 1970s \u2013 and the 24-hour totals alone at both sites were greater than the previous 72-hour rainfall records for each location The same is true of several other nearby sites \u2013 a sign of just how extreme the rainfall has been Here's a wrap of its impacts Tuesday and Wednesday: the center of Japan's third-largest metropolitan area local time at Cape Erimo on Japan's northernmost major island Tropical Storm Etau was known as \\\"Typhoon No and \\\"typhoon\\\" is used for all systems of tropical-storm or higher strength The name \\\"Etau\\\" was also given to a tropical storm that drenched Japan in 2009 New pictures emerge of the worsening flood situation in eastern Japan @SkyNewsAust pic.twitter.com/tU8tt8LClY (@Amy_Greenbank) At least 7,000 homes damaged or destroyed in Ibaraki. pic.twitter.com/UKk7uDSIrx Training rainbands from a weakening Tropical Storm Etau triggered disastrous flooding north of Tokyo (MORE: Thousands of Homes Flooded in Japan) Hardest hit were areas along the Kinugawa and Tone Rivers population about 42,000 about 30 miles northeast of downtown Tokyo in Ibaraki Prefecture Digital Globe and Google released a set of photos on September 11, which help to capture the scope and magnitude of the flooding. Google has also started a disaster information map and person finder We've built some before and after GIFs below along the affected stretches of the Kinugawa and Tone Rivers (MORE: Thousands of Homes Flooded in Japan) Digital Globe and Google released a set of photos on September 11, which help to capture the scope and magnitude of the flooding. Google has also started a disaster information map and person finder We've built some before and after GIFs below along the affected stretches of the Kinugawa and Tone Rivers About 700 people left stranded overnight after Kinugawa river burst its banks and a second town further north braces for major flooding on Friday morning More than 20 people are missing in a town north of Tokyo following days of torrential rain which weather experts said occurred just once every half a century. As the rescue effort continued in Joso, the town of Osaki, was inundated after a river burst its banks on Friday morning. Japanese media reports said 80 Osaki residents were stranded when the breach sent water levels shortly before dawn. Read moreHeavy rain caused by Typhoon Etau earlier this week caused flooding and landslides throughout Japan forcing the evacuation of more than 100,000 people and causing widespread disruption to rail services but the death toll could rise once water levels drop and rescue workers are able to properly gauge damage in the worst-affected areas Fears that rising water levels could threaten the city of Sendai prompted authorities there to advise - though not order - more than 400,000 residents to leave Etau has moved out into the Sea of Japan but continued to generate record levels of rainfall in several parts of the country The deluge also caused leaks of rainwater at the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after heavy rain overwhelmed drainage pumps The rainwater may have come into contact with huge quantities of radioactive water - which becomes contaminated after it is used to cool melted fuel - being stored in tanks at the site said it did not know how much tainted rainwater had flowed into the Pacific ocean but a spokesman said tests conducted earlier this week showed the incident had “no effect” on the sea about 700 people were left stranded overnight after the Kinugawa river burst its banks along a 140 m stretch sending a wall of water coursing through the town The breach was the first in Joso for more than six decades Kyodo News reported that the flooding had inundated 6,500 homes and spread over more than 30 sq kms told public broadcaster NHK that rescuers have been unable to keep up with the volume of calls for help In scenes that brought back memories of the March 2011 tsunami disaster torrents of muddy river water wrenched homes from their foundations and submerged cars and farmland Dramatic TV footage showed members of Japan’s self-defence forces plucking stranded residents from the roofs of buildings and vehicles said on Friday that 22 people were unaccounted for while hundreds were still waiting to be rescued More than 30,000 of Joso’s 65,000 resident were ordered to flee their homes on Thursday more than 3,500 people were staying in evacuation centers blankets and water to about 780 people who were stranded but did not need to be rescued a town in Miyagi prefecture about 200 miles north of Joso military personnel began a second major rescue operation from the air after a river burst its banks on Friday morning Miyagi experienced record levels of rainfall on Friday morning with heavy rain expected to continue until around noon there and in other parts of north-east Japan Takuya Deshimaru of Japan’s Meteorological Agency described the situation in Miyagi as “abnormal” and warned that the area was still in “grave danger” Weather officials and TV presenters repeatedly told residents in flooded areas to continue calling for help and not to attempt to escape by themselves Those still able to evacuate were instructed to leave their homes in pairs or groups Military helicopters have been involved in several dramatic rescues of stranded residents a soldier was seen repeatedly lowering himself onto a building to rescue what appeared to be a family of four Another helicopter plucked a man in his 60s to safety after he had spent hours holding on to a utility pole who was lifted to safety on Friday morning said she had spent the night on the second floor of her flooded house with her husband and three cats “There was no time to escape – all we could do was go upstairs,” said Sekimoto who at one point was up to her neck in water “I kept praying the water wouldn’t come upstairs.” Reiko Yamaji was one of dozens of people stranded at a supermarket “We spent the night in the car parked on the rooftop parking lot,” the 75-year-old said “The water supply had been cut and the toilets were out of order Dr Raymond Joso will be inducted as Uniting Mission and Education’s Head of Mission Enablement on 16 October at 11 am.Moderator Simon Hansford will preside Dr Joso has more than 15 years’ ministry experience in a variety of settings both in Church ministry and Synod roles This also includes significant postgraduate experiences He has made multiple contributions to the Hold That Thought series the service will be a hybrid event.  The physical service will happen at the Centre for Ministry Chapel in North Parramatta and an additional five in the foyer – which will allow the safe provision of a light lunch after the gathering RSVP by Tuesday 6th October for the physical gathering by email to ReneeK@nswact.uca.org.au and include whether you will stay for lunch and any dietary requirements Due to the limited places and the work of several guests with a role in the service there are only 20 places set aside for people to register.  Please contact ReneeK@nswact.uca.org.au for Zoom details for those not physically able to attend and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Insights is the magazine of the Uniting Church in Australia With daily news and views on culture and theology Copyright All rights reserved | Site by Intelligent Developments About Insights Total Croatia News known as one of the founders of the HDZ in Lika who was also called “Lički Tuđman” died yesterday in the Rijeka hospital from coronavirus According to Maxportal because he was infected with the coronavirus a few days ago he was admitted to the Rijeka Clinical Hospital He had underlying heart and blood pressure problems The news of his death was published by the Gospić HDZ “Today is a particularly sad day for the two Mraović families the family of the late Joso and the late Mile Today is a sad day for all the founders of HDZ and the Croatian state today is a sad day for all Croatian defenders of Gospić and Bilaj two falcons who participated in all important processes from the very beginning of the creation of the Croatian state we are proud that we participated with Joso and Mile in the creation of our only homeland and we hereby express our sincere condolences on behalf of all HDZ founders from the town of Gospić Joso and Mile will be with us and in our hearts forever,” reads the post on their Facebook page The news was confirmed for 24sata by the Lika-Senj County Prefect Darko Milinović The controversial politician and businessman died at the age of 68 he was also known to the Croatian public for the affair of raping American Ilisha Jarrett known publicly as the „ličko rukovanje“ („Lika handshake“) he was sentenced to two years in prison in 2005 As Jutarnji list reports the case then attracted a lot of attention especially because of the reasoning of the verdict of Gospić judge Branko Milanović he stated that forcible pushing of a finger into the anus should not be understood as rape and that it is actually identical to shaking hands which is why the term “ličko rukovanje” (“Lika handshake”) was later coined the Supreme Court overturned that verdict and returned the case to the court in Rijeka where Mraović was sentenced to three years in prison for lewd acts identical to rape The Supreme Court reduced his sentence to two years and he was eventually released from prison four months earlier even though this was not possible after he was convicted of a crime The nickname “Lički Tuđman” (“Lika’s Tuđman”) was given to him in his homeland because of his distinctive political appearance and influence and the whole of Lika knew him by that nickname He was a member of the Gospić City Council and the Lika-Senj County Assembly He was renowned as a wealthy and powerful man To read more news from Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page The Kinugawa River broke through a breakwater A man in his 70s is believed to have been trapped in his house as it was swept away Japanese military helicopters plucked residents from their rooftops but rescue officials said they were unable to keep up with the pleas for help a tourist spot popular with foreign tourists At least two people are reported missing and scores are stranded in flooded homes Some 100,000 have been evacuated across a wide swathe of the country "Rare weather warnings" were issued for five million people in eastern Japan where some areas received more than twice their usual monthly September rain in just 48 hours The rains came on the heels of Tropical Storm Etau Rainfall reached 600mm (24 inches) in one part of Ibaraki prefecture and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of at least 200mm more in parts of eastern Japan site of the reactor crippled by the March 2011 tsunami please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent is set to conduct a public test of its self-driving vehicles in mid-February at the Agri-Science Valley Joso The vehicles will operate between various sites at the location including a Michi-no-Eki roadside rest area and a facility offering agricultural experiences The automaker is planning to utilize the knowledge gained through the test in the development of its self-driving vehicles a modified golf cart turned small electric vehicle (EV) developed by Honda’s affiliate The EV accommodates up to two passengers and uses sensors and cameras to detect buildings people and vehicles entering and leaving the area Participants will be able to reserve and summon CiKoMa to a desired location using a special wristwatch-like device provided by Honda Self-driving technology is categorized into five levels according to the amount of driver involvement with Level 5 indicating the most advanced automation the vehicle will operate at Level 2 with staff on board but Honda aims to reach Level 4 — full automation — by 2025 Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun One 63-year-old woman was killed after her house was crushed by a landslide and another when her car was swept away At least 26 people are missing and more than 100,000 have been forced to flee A severe rain warning remains in effect for parts of northern Japan but floodwaters is retreating in the city of Joso on Friday Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. When I was a student at the University of Toronto, more years ago than I will admit to anyone beyond my mother, I was always titillated when hearing of Joso’s. This restaurant, inaccessible to me financially, was replete with pictures and statues of bare-breasted women, a panoply of delights to a young man. Now, a bit older, the restaurant still exists and it is finally well within my means. Indeed, it’s not particularly expensive. Though it was the nudes that first captured my imagination, what has kept me going in the door of Joso’s is that the food is excellent. Joso’s consistently has the best octopus in Toronto, meaty, char-grilled, succulent and sufficiently tender to cut through with a butter knife. It’s not mealy. It’s not chewy. It’s not mushy. It’s perfect. It also has the best squid in Toronto prepared the same way. Off-menu, but consistently available, is Shrimp Amadeus with capers, white wine, brandy, garlic and parsley. They will never reveal the ingredients. A chef who worked there for almost 10 years opened his own restaurant and refused to serve it. I told him I would not attend his restaurant again unless he did. He still refused. Either he was in terror, or the family never shared the recipe — I will never know. This new chef’s restaurant closed down, perhaps because he wouldn’t cook this dish. Who would think that the most erotic restaurant in Canada has such unusual individually crafted recipes? The pasta is spaghetti from Italpasta owned by Toronto’s (and Joso’s frequent patron) Joe Vitale. Joso’s art and sculpture and much of the art is his own. His wife, Angiolina, created the menu based on food that they knew from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia. Leo has taken over, with his wife, and has made the restaurant idiosyncratically a homage to himself, his father and his family. It is a fitting tribute. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Japan: Thousands of rescuers arrived in a deluged city north of Tokyo on Friday (Sep 11) to help evacuate hundreds of trapped residents and search for 12 people missing after torrential rains triggered massive flooding threatening to worsen conditions in the wake of Typhoon Etau which smashed through the country earlier this week bringing strong winds and causing travel chaos One person is so far confirmed to have died in the flooding police and firefighters were dispatched on Friday morning to flooded areas where rescuers had worked through the night a small city of 65,000 in Ibaraki prefecture and the worst affected area showed dozens of residents getting into military boats from a shopping mall cut off by the floods while helicopters plucked others to safety Images showed residents walking in knee-deep water near shelters in the city which has also been hit by localised flooding Some 6,500 homes are believed to be in the area affected by the floods triggered when a levee on the Kinugawa river gave way on Thursday "At least 12 people are still unaccounted for as of Friday morning while seven others were injured," said Hiroaki Tachi "We are trying our best to rescue people as soon as possible while still asking our residents to stay vigilant for now," the official told AFP a 63-year-old woman was killed after being engulfed with landslides triggered by heavy rain dramatic aerial footage showed whole houses being swept away by raging torrents An estimated 690 people were awaiting rescue as of 11:00pm on Thursday (1400 GMT) It was note immediately clear how many people were still trapped by Friday morning More than 100,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes on Thursday after a huge swathe of northeast Japan was battered by torrential rain with up to 60 centimetres falling in some places Forecasters from the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued special warnings urging vigilance against mudslides and flooding ★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional Vietnam Investment Review under the Ministry of Finance Advertisement  | Contact us The land ministry knew the Kinugawa River was prone to flooding and created a detailed simulation of watershed damage 10 years ago where riverbanks collapsed and houses were swept away Thursday also had a flood hazard map for residents ready this week's typhoon-triggered downpours and resulting landslides saw hundreds of people failing to evacuate leaving many stranded on rooftops or displaying SOS signs from the balconies of their homes One man clung to a utility pole for several hours.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); Authorities did alert residents in high-risk areas in advance The Meteorological Agency issued a tokubetsu keiho for heavy rain on Thursday and for the whole of Ibaraki Prefecture at 7:45 a.m The banks of the Kinugawa River in Ibaraki broke at 12:50 p.m Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. ABC News News HomeJapan floods: More than 100,000 flee after torrential rain unleashes flooding people rescued from roofs in Joso CityShare Japan floods: More than 100,000 flee after torrential rain unleashes flooding people rescued from roofs in Joso CityTopic:Floods Military helicopters continue rescue missions in the city of Joso in Japan's Ibaraki prefecture Link copiedShareShare articleTorrential rains in Japan have swamped a small city north of Tokyo uprooting trees and forcing more than 100,000 people from their homes One person is confirmed to have died and there are reports of at least 12 people missing including in landslides that buried buildings The rains came in the wake of Typhoon Etau bringing strong winds and causing travel chaos Military helicopters plucked stranded residents from roofs after waters surged over a wide area when the raging Kinugawa river burst its banks in Joso Dramatic aerial footage showed whole houses being swept away by raging torrents in scenes eerily reminiscent of the devastating tsunami that crushed Japan's north-east coast in 2011 One man was seen clutching a concrete post as waters swirled around him More than 600 people were still awaiting rescue "We heard a huge sound like a thunderclap and then the hillside came down," a man told news service NHK referring to a landslide that swept away his neighbour A hotel building falls into the floodwaters at Nikko mountain resort in Tochigi prefecture Television pictures from Joso showed desperate residents waving towels as they stood on balconies trying to summon assistance "I thought I was safe because I live on a hill but pretty soon the water came up and everything was washed away," a barefoot man told Fuji TV after his helicopter rescue More than 100,000 people were ordered to leave their homes after a huge swathe of north-east Japan was battered by torrential rain "I've never seen the Kinugawa river burst its banks," 63-year-old Joso resident Akira Yoshihara told AFP "My house is on higher ground but I'm worried the water may reach it tonight." authorities ordered more than 90,000 people to evacuate while another 116,000 were advised to leave their homes A local resident is rescued by a helicopter in a flooded area in Joso (AFP: Jiji Press) and prime minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of ministers that the "unprecedented" rain had created an emergency "The government will work as one to prioritise the safety of the people and do our best to prevent any further disaster," Mr Abe told reporters Up to 12 military helicopters took part in the rescue along with an initial 55 members of Japan's military As night fell in Japan, Ken Moritsugu, the Associated Press in Japan's bureau chief, told the ABC's The World program that the breaching of the river's banks will prolong the problem. "The river is flowing directly into one side into the eastern side of the city and as a result, it will be a while to get rid of the water," he said, adding local authorities were "doing a reasonable jobs, all things considered". "They will have to rebuild the embankment somehow and drain the water out of there. It could easily be at least a week [but] I'm not an expert on this, it could be longer." Rainfall reached 600 millimetres in the area around Joso, with weather officials expecting at least 200mm more in parts of eastern Japan, including Fukushima, the site of the nuclear reactor crippled in 2011, before the downpour stops on Friday. The torrential downpour has exacerbated a contaminated water problem at the Fukushima nuclear plant as it overwhelmed the site's drainage pumps, sending hundreds of tonnes of contaminated water flowing into the ocean, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) said. TEPCO is storing huge volumes of water used to cool reactors that were sent into meltdown when a tsunami hit Japan in 2011. Japan has put heavy emphasis on disaster prevention since the earthquake and tsunami disaster that left nearly 20,000 dead. It is eager to avoid the criticism faced by previous governments for what was seen as a sluggish response. Part of a hotel in the town of Nikko, famed for its shrines and temples, had collapsed, the Kyodo news agency said. Two men were also missing in the city after possibly being buried by landslides, public broadcaster NHK said. Etau moved out into the Sea of Japan (East Sea) by the end of Wednesday, but a wall of rain continued to lash the country. More than a dozen people were injured, including a 77-year-old woman who broke her leg after falling in strong winds, local reports said. Japan is no stranger to natural disasters, and is frequently rocked by typhoons. However, nothing in recent memory has compared with the tsunami of 2011, when more than 18,000 people were killed. A woman is rescued by police officers at a residential area flooded by the Kinugawa river in Joso, Ibaraki prefecture. (Reuters: Kyodo) Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Japanese version Japanese version This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. ABC News News HomeJapan floods: Two dead at least 25 missing as more rivers burst banks in northern provincesShare Japan floods: Two dead at least 25 missing as more rivers burst banks in northern provincesTopic:Floods Military helicopters continue rescue missions in the city of Joso in Japan's Ibaraki prefecture. (AFP: Kazuhiro Nogi) Link copiedShareShare articleFloods that swept houses off their foundations and crushed others under landslides have spread across Japan as more rivers burst their banks, leaving at least 25 people missing and forcing more than 100,000 to flee. Heavy rain continued early Friday, threatening to worsen conditions in the wake of Typhoon Etau which smashed through the country earlier this week, bringing strong winds and causing travel chaos. Kyodo news agency reported the banks of the Shibui River in the city of Osaki had collapsed and flooded houses nearby, while the city of Sendai had issued an evacuation advisory to more than 400,000 people after the Nanakitagawa River flooded. Both are in Miyagi prefecture. A severe rain warning remained in effect for parts of northern Japan, but floodwaters were retreating in the city of Joso after toppling trees and washing houses away, sometimes with their owners still inside, after the large Kinugawa River burst its banks. One 63-year-old woman was killed after her house was crushed by a landslide and another when her car was swept away. At least 27 people were injured, eight seriously. Two eight-year-old children were believed to be among the missing, public broadcaster NHK said. More than 100,000 people had been ordered to leave their homes and 500,000 asked to evacuate on Thursday, after a huge swathe of north-east Japan was battered by torrential rain, with up to 600 millimetres falling in some places. More than 50 helicopters and nearly 6,000 rescuers worked into the night on Thursday to pluck stranded people from houses as floodwaters raged below. More than 100 were temporarily trapped on the second floor of a shopping centre in Joso, where floods damaged upwards of 7,000 buildings. On Friday, helicopters crisscrossed skies over Osaki, 350 kilometres north of Tokyo, where rice fields and houses were inundated as rescuers in rubber boats ferried people to safety. Japan has put heavy emphasis on disaster prevention since a 2011 earthquake and tsunami killed nearly 20,000 people, and authorities are keen to avoid the kind of criticism they faced then for what was seen as a sluggish response. "The central government, police, fire officials and military are all working as one," chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference. "We are doing everything in our power to rescue those in need as soon as possible." Toyota Motor Corp said it had suspended production at three plants in north-east Japan but that there had been no damage at any of the facilities. The torrential downpour had also exacerbated a contaminated water problem at the Fukushima nuclear plant as it overwhelmed the site's drainage pumps, sending hundreds of tonnes of contaminated water flowing into the ocean, a spokesman for operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) said.