Photo/Illutration A rare sighting of the Northern Lights is seen in Oumu, Hokkaido, on May 11, following a strong geomagnetic storm caused by a series of large solar flares. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

On Feb. 11, 1958, the first Japanese Antarctica wintering team made an emergency evacuation from Syowa Station, leaving behind 15 Sakhalin huskies including two named Taro and Jiro.

Taiichi Kitamura, a team member, later recalled in his book that all the dogs started barking as the men prepared for their departure.

“I looked at the tethered dogs on the ice, getting the feeling that I may never be able to return to the station again,” he wrote. It was a sad farewell.

At the time, there actually was a grave communication breakdown between Syowa Station, the expedition ship and Japan, during which the movements of expedition team members could not be tracked at all.

This was because of a powerful geomagnetic storm.

When particles emitted by the sun disturb the Earth’s magnetic field, radio transmissions cease. The phenomenon causes the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis.

On that February night in 1958, the skies over Japan were extensively dyed red and purple, and photographs of this cosmic event graced the front page of The Asahi Shimbun the next morning.

It was also reported that some people mistook the phenomenon for fires and fire engines were dispatched.

This past weekend, Japan got another chance to observe the Northern Lights. Social media went abuzz with posts about them from Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, as well as from the Kansai region.

I was so envious of those lucky people. On some fast-forwarded videos, fantastic ribbons of light danced above the horizon.

Back in 1958, it took two days to restore the lost communication between Antarctica and Japan.

This time, no serious problems have been reported to date.

That’s a relief, since the impact of a geomagnetic storm on society is far greater today than in the past due to our heavy reliance on GPS and other technologies.

Come to think of it, what a powerful presence the sun is. It can make the night sky perform a dignified celestial show just by breathing a bit heavier than usual.

The latest cosmic event made me think of the mystery of the universe and the utter insignificance of our planet.

—The Asahi Shimbun, May 14

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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