Today, "Heavy Snow Chaos" struck Tokyo. Or at least according to this article, entitled:
Sixteen hurt as heavy snow chaos hits Japan
WINTER'S heaviest snowfalls in Japan have hit Tokyo, hampering traffic, forcing sports events and air travel to be cancelled and causing more than a dozen people to be hurt, officials said.
3cm of snow was observed in the capital by noon (2pm AEDT), with a low-pressure system moving northeast along the archipelago's Pacific coast, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
At least 16 people were sent to hospital in snow-related incidents in Tokyo, said a spokesman for the Tokyo Fire Department.
“Most of them were injured after they slipped and fell on snow-covered pavements. Four broke legs or arms,” the spokesman said.
Japanese airlines cancelled 50 domestic flights mainly en route to or from Tokyo's Haneda airport, where one of the three runways was temporarily closed as snow disturbed the guidance system, officials said.
Several train services in the capital were also cancelled, while Shinkansen bullet trains were delayed, train company officials said. Highways were closed at many points in Tokyo.
Snowfalls, the heaviest observed in the capital for the season, also hampered weekend events.
Organisers of the Oume Marathon, scheduled to take place in Tokyo on Sunday morning, decided to cancel the 59th annual race for the first time in 12 years because the course was covered with snow.
Two rugby matches in the nation's top league were called off, while all the horse racing at Tokyo Racecourse was also cancelled.
Yes, we've had three whole centemeters of snow here in Tokyo today, and they're calling it chaos. And perhaps it is, for some (although not for me, who enjoyed making a mini snowman). This really goes to show that the strength of any storm is defined not in measurable quantities, by how well people are prepared to cope with it.
And to be blunt, Tokyoites don't know a thing about snow. Earthquakes are expected, typhoons are the norm and it 
even rains for 6 weeks straight around June and July, but throw some white stuff into the mix and everyone totally freaks out.
It goes without saying that the natives of this city would have some trouble driving in the snow if they are not accustomed to the slick roadways. What blows me away, however, is that people don't even know how to walk in it!
Or shovel it!
(that's a broom...)
Also, doggies!
Wow, literally dozens of ants must have been tragically buried under those drifts!
Posted by: ThePenguin | February 04, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Ahahaha. That's AWESOME. If that's snow in Tokyo, I'm *so* there next year. It's like toy snow!
(would beat slogging through ten inches of melting snow/dirty mopwater in Chicago -- ugh)
Posted by: apexantapex | February 05, 2008 at 08:21 AM