Typhoon No. 10, with gales and torrential rain, left a deep mark on western Japan, especially Kyushu, then headed north. Nagasaki recorded a peak gust of 59.4 m/s, the strongest on record there. Daytime lingering heat above 30°C looks set to continue, but the insects at night say the season is shifting toward autumn. Worry about more typhoons continues.
Each spring and autumn the Palaceside Building invites a Japanese Red Cross donation bus and asks tenants and visitors to help. This year’s autumn drive is Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25, with reception in the west first-floor entrance hall. Hours both days are 10:00–11:00 a.m. and 12:15–4:00 p.m.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Red Cross Blood Center, donation activity has stalled since the COVID-19 state of emergency, and blood has not kept up with hospital demand. Tokyo is especially tight; the shortfall is being filled from other prefectures.
COVID-19 measures at the drive are thorough: people who wish to donate will have their temperature taken, disinfect their hands with alcohol, and wear masks, and numbers inside the bus will be lower than usual to avoid crowding. Those who wish can have biochemical and blood-count results mailed after donating. Whether you have given regularly or this is your first time, why not take this chance to contribute?