Three women were slightly injured and 83 buildings, including schools and homes, were damaged by severe winds in the city of Chiba, Narita and elsewhere in Chiba Prefecture on Sunday, the prefectural government said.
Broken train windows were also found at a train station late in the evening, and the driver reported seeing something that looked like a tornado as the train was entering the station.
The Meteorological Agency sent investigators to the affected areas Monday and determined there was a "high possibility" that the city of Chiba had been hit by a tornado.
Severe winds hit a residential area near JR Soga Station and its vicinity Sunday night, according to local police and firefighters. The three injured women were in their 30s to 80s, they said.
"This is some of the most severe damage this year (from winds)," Meteorological Agency official Hiroaki Kamiguchi said.
Kenji Miyazaki, 83, said while clearing away debris at his home, "I was surprised as the roof of the second floor was blown away in an instant."
A toppled concrete fence was also blamed on the winds.
