BEPPU, Japan: Typhoon Shanshan weakened to a tropical storm on Friday (Aug 30) but was still dumping heavy rains as it slowly churned through Japan, triggering transport havoc and landslide warnings, with up to six people killed. The storm, which at landfall was one of the fiercest to hit Japan in decades, pummelled Kyushu island on Thursday with gusts of up to 252kmh. On Friday they eased to 108kmh as it moved up the archipelago. Even before making landfall, a landslide caused by the heavy