It's a long ways out, to be sure. A lot could change and most certainly will. Nevertheless, this storm, which has just formed, is currently forecast to be a Category 3 at landfall and to strike Japan.
For more information check out the Joint Typhoon Warning Center and Tropical Storm Risk. The official tracking agency is the Japan Meteorological Agency. I'll provide updates as warranted....
In Japan, typhoons are generally referred to by number as opposed to name. The Asian naming system was implemented from 2000 and the names in the rotating lists were contributed by the various Asian countries. See the link below. BTW, usagi is the Japanese word for rabbit.
http://www.typhoon2000.ph/names2.htm
Apart from flooding, landslides are a major problem in Japan related to typhoons. As the ground is already pretty saturated in many areas due to the previous typhoon and other recent rains, we'll probably be seeing a fair number of landslides related to this typhoon.
Note: I got a little excited and posted this on an earlier thread before going to the most recent.
You probably know about it already, but there is a paper coming out tomorrow:
Heightened Tropical Cyclone Activity in the North Atlantic: Natural Variability or Climate Trend?
Greg J. Holland and Peter J. Webster
Online July 30,2007
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London
It reads like a (critical) review of the literature for the first six pages (and has three or so pages of references) then moves on to their analysis.
They identify and filter out short-term cyclic phenomena using the sort of techniques Tamino is highly skilled at (e.g., in order to remove the variability associated with El Nino-Southern Oscillation), and are able to identify three distinct climate regimes from 1905 to present.
Coming from a strict amateur after having done little more than a quick scan, I would have to say that I am impressed.
I will be looking forward to hearing your views...