Andy in Tokyo News, views, life and current affairs from Japan

We’ve been experiencing yet more enormous thunderstorms today. As the pace of climate change intensifies scientists predict that the frequency and destructive power of storms will increase. Compared with other major cities around the world Tokyo is perhaps better equipped than most for extreme weather conditions - after all, it receives almost twice as much [...]

At around 3am this morning I witnessed the biggest thunderstorm I have ever seen in my life. Without any warning whatsoever the heavens opened, lightning struck surrounding buildings disturbingly frequently, and the thunder was loud enough to violently shake the windows.
And I didn’t get any of this on camera. Bugger.

Kichijoji Matsuri was held this weekend, [...]