In local assembly elections across Okinawa, regarded as a prelude to the gubernatorial election slated for late September, the JCP obtained a total of 18 seats, maintaining its pre-election strength.
Shockwaves from a major earthquake (Sep.6) hit Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Typhoon Jebi (Sep.4) left great destruction in the Kansai region. A record heavy rain (Jul.) battered Japan's western regions of Chugoku and Shikoku. All these events together have revealed how vulnerable Japan is to natural disasters.