• Wind and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.637-656
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• 2017

In Japan, at least 28 local winds are known by name, most of them associated with downslope windstorms and gap winds. To review these windstorms, we categorize them based largely on the atmospheric conditions and formation mechanisms, and then focus on representative examples. These representative cases include the "Yamaji­kaze", a typical downslope windstorm, the "Hirodo-­kaze", a downslope windstorm induced by a nearby typhoon (intense tropical cyclone), and the "Karak-kaze", a downslope wind with a clear diurnal variation. Other downslope winds such as the "Inami-kaze" and the gap wind "Kiyokawa­dashi" are also described. Among these winds, the "Yamaji-kaze", "Hirodo-kaze", and "Kiyokawa-dashi" are considered the three most notorious due to their destructive power. After describing and comparing these winds, we discuss remaining issues to be considered in future studies.