Recently, Japan has been facing some of the highest temperatures since records were first kept, in 1875. In Tokyo, temperatures above 95 degrees have persisted for multiple days.
Temperatures have topped 104 degrees in some parts of the country, such as the city of Isesaki—which suffered the highest temperature ever recorded in June in Japan. These temperatures are not unheard of in Japan, but only after the rainy season in mid-July.
A wave of heat stroke and exhaustion injuries has also hit hospitals in Japan. In recent days, 4,500 people were reported to have these symptoms. To combat this, the Japanese government has stated that it would “like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging, and cycling to work.”
The blistering heat has also placed a strain on Japan’s power grid. Since the 2011 earthquake that caused the Fukushima meltdown, Japan has relied primarily on imported energy. Most of Japan’s nuclear energy plants have been shut down. But with the current low price of the yen and imported energy costs skyrocketing, the government is urging citizens to save energy. At a press briefing, energy official Kaname Ogawa said “Please conserve electricity while using air conditioning appropriately to avoid heat stroke and turn off any unnecessary lights.”
The government has said that the heat wave and energy grid problems will likely subside next week.
Temperatures have topped 104 degrees in some parts of the country, such as the city of Isesaki—which suffered the highest temperature ever recorded in June in Japan. These temperatures are not unheard of in Japan, but only after the rainy season in mid-July.
A wave of heat stroke and exhaustion injuries has also hit hospitals in Japan. In recent days, 4,500 people were reported to have these symptoms. To combat this, the Japanese government has stated that it would “like to ask people to take their masks off when walking, jogging, and cycling to work.”
The blistering heat has also placed a strain on Japan’s power grid. Since the 2011 earthquake that caused the Fukushima meltdown, Japan has relied primarily on imported energy. Most of Japan’s nuclear energy plants have been shut down. But with the current low price of the yen and imported energy costs skyrocketing, the government is urging citizens to save energy. At a press briefing, energy official Kaname Ogawa said “Please conserve electricity while using air conditioning appropriately to avoid heat stroke and turn off any unnecessary lights.”
The government has said that the heat wave and energy grid problems will likely subside next week.
