On Saturday, Tokyo endured its eighth consecutive day with temperatures exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a heat wave the city hadn’t seen since 1875, when Japan started to record daily temperatures. The heat is causing unrest all over Japan as officials try to keep citizens from heat stroke.
The heat is not only causing discomfort but also death. More and more of Japan’s senior citizens are falling victim to heat stroke and exhaustion, with an astounding 4,500 people taken to hospitals for these reasons in the last few days.
Government officials have urged citizens to abide by heat safety precautions like not going outside unless necessary and bringing an umbrella on the rare chance one goes outside. Most controversial of all, authorities have encouraged residents not to wear masks while outside to prevent the collection of heat near the mouth.
“I’d like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging and cycling to work,” Seiji Kihara, deputy cabinet secretary.
Electricity has also been scarce in some parts of Japan because liquified natural gas is high in demand, so electric power companies encourage people to “please save as much power as possible.”
Because of Japan’s heavy reliance on natural gas, when the demand for it is high, it’s harder for the country to purchase a plentiful amount. These prices have risen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well. Power companies predict that power outages will grow more and more common if the demand continues.
People are encouraged to use their power on air conditioning to keep them safe, but cut back on other uses of power. They are prompted to increase refrigerator temperatures and power off the widespread self-heating toilets in an attempt to save electricity. Workplaces and offices have also curbed light usage as the heat remains.
“Most of the lights in my office are off,” said Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, “It’s dark.”
This ongoing heat-streak is likely to die out soon, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy. “The heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less,” it said in a statement.
However, even in these difficult conditions, the people of Japan are still finding light in the situation. Some get to spend extra time with loved ones, and others encourage others to take care of themselves during the dangerous heat wave.
“You can’t manage the heat just with your endurance. No matter how tough a person you are, you could lose your life,” said Kentaro Araki, a researcher at the Japan Meteorological Agency. “Please take every possible measure to protect your life.”
The heat is not only causing discomfort but also death. More and more of Japan’s senior citizens are falling victim to heat stroke and exhaustion, with an astounding 4,500 people taken to hospitals for these reasons in the last few days.
Government officials have urged citizens to abide by heat safety precautions like not going outside unless necessary and bringing an umbrella on the rare chance one goes outside. Most controversial of all, authorities have encouraged residents not to wear masks while outside to prevent the collection of heat near the mouth.
“I’d like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging and cycling to work,” Seiji Kihara, deputy cabinet secretary.
Electricity has also been scarce in some parts of Japan because liquified natural gas is high in demand, so electric power companies encourage people to “please save as much power as possible.”
Because of Japan’s heavy reliance on natural gas, when the demand for it is high, it’s harder for the country to purchase a plentiful amount. These prices have risen since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well. Power companies predict that power outages will grow more and more common if the demand continues.
People are encouraged to use their power on air conditioning to keep them safe, but cut back on other uses of power. They are prompted to increase refrigerator temperatures and power off the widespread self-heating toilets in an attempt to save electricity. Workplaces and offices have also curbed light usage as the heat remains.
“Most of the lights in my office are off,” said Yuriko Koike, the governor of Tokyo, “It’s dark.”
This ongoing heat-streak is likely to die out soon, according to Japan’s Ministry of Economy. “The heat is expected to be reduced next week, and the power demand will also be less,” it said in a statement.
However, even in these difficult conditions, the people of Japan are still finding light in the situation. Some get to spend extra time with loved ones, and others encourage others to take care of themselves during the dangerous heat wave.
“You can’t manage the heat just with your endurance. No matter how tough a person you are, you could lose your life,” said Kentaro Araki, a researcher at the Japan Meteorological Agency. “Please take every possible measure to protect your life.”
