A large and extremely powerful Typhoon No. 13 has engulfed Japan's Ogasawara Islands (a remote Pacific island chain administered by Tokyo) in destructive winds as it advances westward, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to warn of violent gusts and high waves. Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary outings and prepare early for worsening conditions. The storm is expected to continue on a westward track, with dangerously rough seas and potentially fierce winds forecast to affect the Okinawa and Amami regions from the 5th through around Sunday the 9th.