{
  "id": 2932347,
  "title": "Could a giant underground river save Tokyo from torrential rain?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/could-a-giant-underground-river-save-tokyo-from-torrential-rain",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T03:23:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260824/p2a/00m/0na/007000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japan's capital, Tokyo, has faced a series of devastating rainstorms in recent years, leading to extensive damage in Chiba Prefecture. To combat this, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is contemplating the construction of a massive underground river to capture water overflowing from swollen rivers. This idea was first proposed in 1985 during Shunichi Suzuki's tenure as governor, and the concept resurfaced in 2021 under Governor Yuriko Koike's leadership. The project involves creating an approximately 30-kilometer-long underground river beneath Tokyo's Ring Roads No. 7 and No. 8, connecting two existing tunnel-type flood-control reservoirs - the Shirako River and Kanda River-Ring Road No. 7. The system would discharge water into Tokyo Bay, significantly enhancing the city's resilience against increasingly severe rainstorms. While the project's cost is substantial, experts argue that it could be a monumental step towards safeguarding the nation's capital.",
  "summary": "TOKYO -- Japan has been hit by a string of devastating rainstorms in recent years, including the latest record rainfall that caused extensive damage i",
  "key_points": [
    "Tokyo faces frequent devastating rainstorms causing extensive damage.",
    "Underground river project proposed in 1985, revived in 2021.",
    "30-kilometer tunnel would connect reservoirs, discharge water into Tokyo Bay."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Building a massive underground river would significantly enhance Tokyo's resilience against increasingly severe rainstorms, potentially safeguarding the nation's capital from extensive damage caused by flooding.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}