Typhoon Rita was the most damaging typhoon to affect northern Japan since 1965. A tropical depression developed on August 9, 1975 over the South China Sea. The depression initially meandered offshore Taiwan, but after turning west, it was upgraded into a tropical storm on August 19, only to turn back to the east. While growing considerably in size, Rita strengthened into a typhoon during the afternoon hours of the August 21. Rita then accelerated to the north-northeast in response to a shortwave trough. Midday on August 22, the typhoon reached its peak intensity, with winds of 145 km/h (90 mph) and a minimum barometric pressure of 965 mbar (28.5 inHg). That evening, the typhoon weakened slightly before making landfall 55 km (35 mi) west of Osaka, with winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). Quickly cr