Severe Tropical Storm Talas (formerly called Typhoon Talas), was an unusually large tropical cyclone that caused many deaths and severe damage to Japan. It was the 12th named storm and the 7th severe tropical storm of the 2011 Pacific typhoon season. Talas is known to have killed at least 82 people, and 16 more are still missing. The word "Talas" is a Filipino word meaning "sharpness". It followed five months after Japan was hit by a large tsunami.