Tokyo breaks record for consecutive rainy days / Rainfall affects agriculture and increases the risk of landslides

Tokyo has recorded 34 consecutive days with precipitation, a record in the history of weather observations in Japan’s capital, which began in 1886. The rains started on August 27, 2026, and, according to forecasts by the Japan Meteorological Agency, will continue in the eastern part of the country at least until October 1.

The previous record, of 33 consecutive rainy days, was set between June and July 2019. By the beginning of this week, 629 millimeters of precipitation had accumulated in central Tokyo, nearly three times the normal average for the entire month of September.

The gloomy weather has significantly reduced the duration of sunshine. Residents of the capital had only 46.8 hours of sunshine over the past month, equivalent to approximately 36% of the usual average for this period. No sunshine was recorded on 14 days.

The Japan Meteorological Agency explains the phenomenon through the persistence of a stationary autumn rain front, the recent succession of typhoons, and the influence of the El Niño phenomenon. Specialists also link these phenomena to the long-term effects of global warming.

Excess moisture is already affecting agriculture around the metropolitan area. Producers are facing difficulties growing vegetables, while harvests are declining. In areas where the soil is saturated with water, authorities are also warning of an increased risk of landslides.