Seasonal snow causes havoc in Tokyo
2013-01-14 13:59
Tokyo - The winter's first snowfall blanketed the
Japanese capital Tokyo and its environs on Monday, paralysing traffic and
stranding young people taking part in traditional coming-of-age ceremonies.
Pedestrians tiptoed through the slush in the luxury Ginza
shopping district as a storm system covered much of the Japanese archipelago.
Policemen helped drivers shove cars stuck on snow-covered
roads while employees cleared the pavement in front of their shops.
Japanese airlines cancelled more than 460 domestic
flights, mainly to or from Tokyo's Haneda airport where runways were
temporarily closed as workers removed snow, public broadcaster NHK said.
Dozens of train services in the capital were also
cancelled.
Highways were also closed at many points in Tokyo and
surrounding areas as even 7cm of snow fell in the capital, news reports and
officials said.
The severe weather disrupted "Coming-of Age
Day" ceremonies across the nation on Monday, a national holiday at which
20-year-olds celebrate legally reaching adulthood.
"The snow disappointed me as I was hoping for fine
weather," a 20-year-old woman wearing a traditional kimono and sheltering
under an umbrella told TV Asahi at a ceremony hall in the city's western
district of Oume.
Other young women in colourful kimonos walked gingerly through the snow-covered
streets to the ceremonies.
The weather agency warned of further severe winter storms
and heavy snow overnight in eastern Japan.
- SAPA
