Japan’s general insurers are expected to pay out about ¥32.3bn (US$216m) across all business lines following the record-breaking rains that struck Kyushu and Yamaguchi in August, according to a press release from the General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ).
As of 29 August, GIAJ member companies — including both domestic and foreign insurers — had recorded 34,438 claims. Fire insurance represented the largest share, with payouts projected at ¥18.68bn from 14,050 cases.
Motor claims were expected to reach about ¥13.03bn (US$87m) from 17,882 cases, of which 16,988 were expected to result in payments. The majority of vehicle claims came from Kumamoto Prefecture, which accounted for more than 12,000 claims valued at ¥8.84bn. Miscellaneous lines, including personal accident cover, added ¥591m.
The association warned policyholders to stay vigilant against post-disaster scams, noting an increase in fraudulent operators claiming to handle or assist with insurance claims. It reminded the public that insurers never charge for damage assessments and urged customers to confirm with their insurance company or agent before engaging any third-party services.
The rains between 6 and 12 August caused severe flooding across southwestern Japan, particularly in Kyushu and parts of Yamaguchi, leading to widespread damage to homes, vehicles, and businesses. GIAJ noted that while the August event was smaller in scale than past major typhoons, such as Typhoon Jebi in 2018 — which resulted in over JPY 1tn in insured losses — it still represents one of the costliest non-typhoon weather events in recent years.
