Photo/Illutration Waves batter a coastal road in Oita Prefecture on Aug. 27 as Typhoon No. 10 continues its path toward the Kyushu region. (The Asahi Shimbun)

When starting to learn French, the first stumbling block is dealing with the fact that nouns can be masculine or feminine in gender, and that the articles used with them vary accordingly.

I can readily understand why the sea, “la mer,” is feminine. In Japanese, the kanji for “umi” (the sea) contains a component that denotes “mother.”

The earth (“la terre”) and the rain (“la pluie”) are also feminine. That, too, is OK. But why on earth is the wind (“le vent”) masculine? That’s when you feel like throwing in the towel.

For a while after the end of World War II, Japan used women’s names for typhoons, such as Kathleen and Kitty. Nowadays, they are usually identified by assigned numbers, but also by their Asian names.

Typhoon No. 10, which has its “eye” wide open off Amami-Oshima island, is called Shanshan, which is said to be a girl’s name in Hong Kong.

It has a cute ring to it. But in person, it is anything but. My eyes are glued to the TV weather forecast right now, even while writing this column. The typhoon’s expected central pressure at noon is a staggering 935 hectopascals.

That’s a terrifying number. I once experienced a typhoon of comparable ferocity in a place where I was stationed at the time.

Buffeted by violent winds and pelted by drenching rain, the office building continued shaking like a cargo ship tossed by waves. All day long, I was scared to death. In various parts of the city, parked cars had been tossed around and lay on their sides.

However, the typhoon now headed our way is traveling at the speed of a bicycle.

After taking its own sweet time moving north, I am told, the route it takes may trace the contours of the Japanese archipelago, as if to torment humans just for fun.

I am afraid some parts of the nation could remain affected for hours.

Typhoon No. 10 may have a pretty female name, but it will be none other than a fickle and savage holy terror who is a threat to people around her--a veritable “enfant terrible.”

We must be fully prepared. The moment we sense danger, we should evacuate promptly.

I can only pray that there will be no damage.

—The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28

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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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