
Record number of people sent to hospital for heatstroke in June, data shows
The previous June high was 15,969 cases, logged in 2022.
Many areas across Japan experienced maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius or higher on multiple days last month.
Of those hospitalized, 10,342 were age 65 or over, accounting for about 60% of the total.
The largest share, at 6,819 cases, occurred at home or in other residential settings, followed by 3,404 cases on roads.
The agency is calling on people to stay at home on days when a heatstroke alert is issued and to use air conditioners or fans appropriately.
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Japan Times
12 hours ago
- Japan Times
Extreme heat in Japan set to peak this week
A heat wave gripping the nation is expected to continue this week and could hit its peak over the next several days. Human-induced climate change has sent the mercury rising, particularly in the Hokuriku region facing the Sea of Japan, where temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius were recorded in many areas on Monday. On the same day, the Meteorological Agency issued an alert for heatstroke in 36 prefectures. At 1:40 p.m., the city of Komatsu in Ishikawa Prefecture recorded the highest temperature of 40.3 C, followed by the city of Toyama, where the mercury hit 39.8 C. A temperature of 39.2 C was recorded in the cities of Mima, in Tokushima Prefecture, and Sakai, in Fukui Prefecture. Monday's temperatures followed a heat wave between July 30 and Aug. 2, which saw at least one region experience dangerous heat that surpassed 40 C over four consecutive days — the first time in 13 years that this had happened. Last Wednesday, the city of Tamba in Hyogo Prefecture experienced Japan's highest temperature ever of 41.2 C . The high temperatures are expected to persist throughout the country over the next couple of days, though rain forecast for various regions across the country from Thursday could lead to cooler days toward the end of the week. Amid the sustained high temperatures, people are advised to take measures to prevent heatstroke, including making sure that those most susceptible to it — such as children and elderly people — stay in cool environments with air conditioning and for event organizers to make sure that participants take precautions. The Meteorological Agency advises that events be canceled in view of heat or for them to be postponed to a later date. If either option is unavailable, the agency recommends that events be transitioned online instead. A total of 17,229 people were taken to hospital with symptoms of heatstroke in June, according to the most recent data from the internal affairs ministry. This is the highest number ever in a single month, according to data that dates back to 2010. Of the total, 26 people died, while 324 others suffered severe cases of heatstroke. Elderly people made up the largest proportion of the number, with 60% of those taken to hospital being over the age of 65. Although the total number for July is yet to be released, it is evident that numbers are increasing as temperatures across the country continue to rise. In the week through Sunday alone, a total of 10,804 people were taken to hospital, of whom 16 died.


NHK
20 hours ago
- NHK
Dangerous heat expected to persist across Japan
A dangerous heatwave is expected to continue gripping wide areas of Japan from the Tohoku region in the northeastern to the Chugoku region in the west. Scorching heat is forecast to continue on Monday. Daytime highs may reach 39 degrees Celsius in Tottori City, Maebashi City and Hyogo Prefecture's Toyooka City. Temperatures are expected to hit 38 degrees in the cities of Yamagata, Fukui and Kyoto. Highs of 37 degrees are forecast for the cities of Saitama, Kofu, Toyama, Osaka and Takamatsu, and 36 degrees for central Tokyo, Nagoya City and other locations. Heatstroke alerts have been issued in 36 prefectures, from the Tohoku region down to the southern prefecture of Okinawa. Weather officials are advising people to keep cool by using air conditioners, consuming adequate fluids and salt, and taking frequent breaks during outdoor activities.


Japan Times
20 hours ago
- Japan Times
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical chairman vows corporate culture reform
Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical will accelerate efforts to reform its corporate culture marked by workers' reliance on top management, Chairman Yoshihito Ota has said. A major problem the drug and supplement maker must address is the "strong tendency to depend on top management," seen among its employees, Ota said in a recent interview. Ota took office in March after being invited from outside the Osaka-based company, following a massive health hazard caused by supplements containing beni kо̄ji red yeast rice ingredients that came to light early last year. Led by top executives mainly from the founding family, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical achieved net profit growth for over 20 years from its stock market listing in 1999, until the beni kо̄ji scandal emerged. For many employees, "it was easier to work if they depended on someone rather than asserting themselves" during the period of strong growth, Ota said. As the company focused on generating profits, capital investment plans were often delayed, leaving the manufacturing staff exhausted, but the division did not request an improvement, according to Ota. "The manufacturing division weakened," while the marketing division was strong, he continued. Probes into the beni kо̄ji scandal have found that culture drums in a company factory had cracks due to aging, indicating the possibility that mold spores may have entered the drums through the cracks, allowing the substance that caused the health hazard to generate inside the drums. "It's best to renew facilities systematically," Ota said, underscoring his intent to strengthen the manufacturing division. Saying that quality control has not been unified across the entire group, Ota also emphasized, "We'll carry out structural reform of the entire manufacturing division." Before joining Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, Ota was involved in the reconstruction of Japan Airlines after its 2010 bankruptcy, as a close aide to the late Kyocera founder Kazuo Inamori, who led the airlines' turnaround. Under Ota, Kobayashi Pharmaceutical regularly holds a leadership workshop for senior officials to foster a culture where employees make decisions and take action independently. "The corporate culture will not change unless the older generation changes, " he said.