Tokyo experienced a record 10 consecutive days of temperatures reaching 35°C or above, according to the weather office on Wednesday. This follows the country enduring its hottest June and July ever recorded.
Scientists state that heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent worldwide due to human-induced climate change, and Japan is no exception.
This is the first time since the survey began in 1875 that such a streak has been recorded, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, with Wednesday marking the 10th day of this heatwave.
On the streets of Tokyo, both residents and tourists expressed their struggles with the oppressive conditions.
“Even just walking outside a little makes me sweat a lot,” said Haruka Fujii. “When I have errands to run, I try to stay in the shade of buildings and use a parasol when I go out,” she added.
Meanwhile, Aiko Natsume mentioned she is doing her best to adapt to the oppressive heat. “I even go to saunas, trying to acclimatize myself,” she said.
This weather comes after a town on the northern island of Hokkaido experienced a record level of rainfall on Tuesday, as reported by public broadcaster NHK.
Toyotomi recorded more than a month’s worth of August rainfall in just 12 hours, according to NHK. In western Yamaguchi prefecture, nearly 400 households in Hagi City were urged to evacuate due to a high risk of landslides.
This year, Japan recorded its hottest June and July since data collection began in 1898, and in August, the country logged its highest-ever temperature, with the mercury reaching 41.8°C in the central city of Isesaki.
Japanese officials are urging the public to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms during the summer to prevent heatstroke.
The elderly in Japan, which has the world’s second-oldest population after Monaco, are particularly at risk. Last week, more than 8,400 people were hospitalized in Japan, with 12 fatalities, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Impact on Health and Productivity
Japan’s summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equal to 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.
Experts warn that Japan’s beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate, or sometimes not fully blossoming, as autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.
Mount Fuji’s famous snowcap was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared to the average of early October.
The speed of temperature increases worldwide is not uniform.
Of the continents, Europe has experienced the fastest warming per decade since 1990, followed closely by Asia, according to global data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The United Nations warned last week that rising global temperatures are increasingly affecting the health and productivity of workers, with manual laborers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, and fisheries being particularly hard hit.
The UN’s health and climate agencies reported that worker productivity drops by two to three percent for every degree above 20°C.
The related health risks include heatstroke, dehydration, kidney dysfunction, and neurological disorders.
