In the end, the Tokyo taifun No17 wasn't much of a big deal.
A bit of gusty wind and rain showers, nothing out of the ordinary for us Western Europeans I guess. There was no flooding and only the people who were stupid enough to leave their homes without boots and umbrella despite the taifun warning, got a little wet (but I have absolutely NO compassion for those girls who went out in skimpy skirts and summer shoes the same afternoon a taifun warning is issued!)
I understand it was a lot harsher for people near the coasts, but I just think the Tokyo televisions shouldn't have made such a big deal about the situation on the mainland. If you stayed home in the evening and waited for the rain to stop just like we did, it was fine. Instead I got tons of emails from university, the housing etc. making sure we WERE REALLY FREAKED OUT for our first taifun. This morning my train wasn't even late and the entire day was sunny and hot. But really what a good excuse to snuggle up and watch Sherlock in the evening, just waiting for the imaginary, apocalyptic taifun.