Japan is a country that frequently experiences typhoons, and one with an extensive written historical record in the form of national histories, temple and shrine records, chronicles, and diaries. [1] Numerous typhoon records exist scattered across the nation: at least 310 storms have been recorded between 794 and 1400 in Kyoto alone. [2] Typhoons have been described in works of literature such as The Pillow Book and The Tale of Genji . [1] Particularly damaging typhoons have been named as reasons for era name changes. The kamikaze typhoons in the 13th century prevented the Mongol conquest of Japan. [3]
In historical records, the term ōkaze (Japanese: 大風) is most often used to refer to typhoons, [1] though the use ot this word is not limited to tropical cyclones. [2] Several other terms were also used, such as akarasamakaze (Japanese: 暴風), appearing as early as the Nihon Shoki ; [4] and nowaki (Japanese: 野分), which was chiefly used in Japanese literature between the 10th and 14th centuries, but was possibly applied for typhoons as late as the 15th century. [1]
Through utilizing paleotempestological methods, past long-term trends in typhoon activity can be determined. Storm deposits in Kamikoshiki-shima indicate high activity between 3,600 – 2,500 and between 1,000 – 300 years ago as well as heightened activity around the time of the kamikaze typhoons. [5] Sediments at Lake Daija in Amakusa mark an active period between 250 and 1600 AD. [3] Analysis of historical texts in Kyoto revealed an increased frequency of typhoons in the 12th–14th centuries compared to the 9th–11th centuries. Shifts in annual activity patterns can also be observed. During the 9th–11th centuries, over 70% of typhoons that struck Kyoto occurred between late August and mid-October, whereas in the 12th century this ratio drops to around 60%, and in turn the number of typhoons between late July and mid-August saw an increase. Through the 13th and 14th centuries, this trend continued, while the number of early- and late-season typhoons (before late July and after mid-October, respectively) rose. The increased frequency of typhoon impacts in Kyoto between 1210 and 1360, particularly in the early season, is likely correlated to a temperature drop and a southerly shift of the westerlies that coincided with the end of the "Nara-Heian-Kamakura warm period" in 1296. [2]
《文武二年（六九八）九月甲子（七）》○甲子。下総国大風。壊百姓廬舎。
《大宝二年（七〇二）八月庚子（五）》○庚子。駿河・下総二国大風。壊百姓廬舍。損禾稼。
《和銅七年（七一四）十月乙卯朔》○冬十月乙卯朔。美濃。武蔵。下野。伯耆。播磨。伊予六国、大風発屋。仍免当年租調。
《延暦四年（七八五）十月壬申【十】》○壬申。遠江。下総。常陸。能登等国。去七八月大風。五穀損傷。百姓飢饉。並遣使賑給之。
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