Heatstroke alerts issued in Japan as temperatures surge
The hot weather was headline news in the country, which last year experienced its joint warmest summer ever as climate change fueled extreme heatwaves around the globe.
Record temperatures were logged in 14 cities for June, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, while in central Tokyo the mercury hit 34.4 degrees Celsius.
Doctors treated at least 57 people for heat-related malaise in the capital on Wednesday, adding to the 169 people seen on Tuesday.
At least three heat-related deaths were reported in other parts of the country this week.
Some Tokyo residents wore heat-repellent clothing to beat the high temperatures, like Junko Kobayashi, 73, who showed AFP her cooling scarf.
"I soak it in water and then wrap it around my neck. It feels refreshing. And I use this umbrella too. It blocks the light and heat so it feels cooler," she said.
Other elderly residents said they were trying to take it easy so as not to risk heatstroke, while 80-year-old Naoki Ito said he was making sure to regularly drink water.
"I don't need to take a big gulp, just a small sip here and there. It's important to remember that," Ito said.
Every summer, Japanese officials urge the public, especially elderly people, to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms to avoid heatstroke.
Senior citizens made up more than 80 percent of heat-related deaths in the past five years.
Japan is also experiencing a record influx of tourists, with foreign visitors up 21 percent year-on-year in May.
"It's been pretty stinking," said 31-year-old Australian tourist Jack Budd, who was trying to find shade whenever possible with his travel partner.
"The breeze is quite warm so it's hard to get out of it unless you go inside," he said.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
3 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Shinkansen services in southwest Japan halted as typhoon makes landfall
FUKUOKA - Shinkansen bullet train services in Japan's southwestern Kyushu region were briefly suspended Thursday afternoon due to heavy rain as a typhoon made landfall, the operator said. Typhoon Lingling began moving over Kagoshima Prefecture after around 5 p.m., according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. JR Kyushu said services between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-chuo stations on the Kyushu Shinkansen Line were halted for about an hour from 2:10 p.m., and again for about 90 minutes from around 4:35 p.m. The year's 12th typhoon comes after torrential downpours in recent weeks caused floods and landslides that left casualties in the region.
Asahi Shimbun
4 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Fragrance sensitivity affects 1 in 10 students, survey finds
Sanae Teramoto, right, an assembly member from Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, delivers a request to an education ministry official in Tokyo on Aug. 20, calling for measures against fragrance sensitivity. (Mayumi Ujioka) Around 10 percent of Japanese elementary and junior high school students have suffered health problems due to fragranced products such as laundry soap and perfumes, according to a current survey. The findings highlight growing concerns over fragrance sensitivity, prompting renewed calls for national guidelines in schools. The ongoing study, released on Aug. 20, is being jointly conducted by the Japanese Society of Clinical Ecology and the Society of Indoor Environment. Since May last year, the researchers have collected online responses from more than 10,000 parents from 21 municipalities across nine prefectures. This is the first academic study of its kind on fragrance-related health complaints among children in Japan. According to the findings, 10.1 percent of elementary and junior high school students reported experiencing symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain or joint pain caused by exposure to artificial fragrances. Including preschoolers, 8.3 percent of all children were affected. Sensitivity increased with age: 6.8 percent of lower-grade elementary students, 11.2 percent of upper-grade students and 12.9 percent of junior high students reported symptoms. A total of 4.4 percent reported experiencing these symptoms specifically at school or day care. With or without symptoms, 5.7 percent of children reported discomfort caused by artificial fragrances from classmates' clothing, hair, lunch aprons and other items. The survey found that 2.1 percent of children refused to attend school or day care due to scent-related discomfort. 'These symptoms tend to increase as children spend more time at school. It's likely that the learning environment for many students is being negatively affected,' said Ryoichi Terada, a professor emeritus at Meiji University and an environmental sociologist on the research team. He emphasized the need for continued investigation into the issue. In response to the research, advocacy groups involving politicians and activists submitted a formal request to the education ministry on Aug. 20. They are urging the government to launch a nationwide investigation and create guidelines on the use of fragranced products in schools.
Japan Times
5 hours ago
- Japan Times
Infectious diseases to watch for in Japan this summer amid surge of cases
A number of infectious diseases are currently spreading in Japan, with experts attributing the recent surge in infections to a mix of factors such as relaxed hygiene measures, drug-resistant bacteria and lowered immunity levels due to extreme heat . Here are some to be particularly vigilant about this summer: Whooping cough Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. As of Aug. 10, there were 64,467 cases reported this year, according to the latest data from the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS). That's more than 15 times the 4,096 cases logged for the entire 2024. The disease, which affects people of all ages but is particularly prevalent among children, spreads quickly when those who are infected sneeze or cough, according to the health ministry. The incubation period is about seven to 10 days. Early symptoms can last for two or three weeks and are similar to the common cold, but they can worsen over time to bring more violent and frequent coughing as well as mucus. If untreated, infections can become more severe, especially in infants, causing convulsions and the temporary cessation of breathing. They can result in serious conditions such as pneumonia and brain inflammation among young children, as well as death. The JIHS recommends avoiding touching and inhaling droplets released through coughs and sneezes from infected patients, as well as basic hygiene practices. The DPT-IPV-Hib vaccine, administered to babies, is effective against whooping cough. Treatments include anti-bacterial drugs and cough medications. COVID-19 While Japan entered a post-pandemic phase in May 2023, scrapping various measures, COVID-19 has made occasional rebounds and has continued to evolve. In the week through Aug. 10, an average number of COVID-19 patients per clinic was 6.13, up from 5.53 the week before and 4.12 two weeks before, according to health ministry data. While sample sizes are small, a genome analysis of COVID-19 variants by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has found that most of the cases in the metropolis have been driven by NB.1.8.1, unofficially nicknamed Nimbus. Nationwide, Nimbus — a subvariant of the omicron variant — accounted for about 40% of all coronavirus infections in June. It is one of six variants currently designated by the World Health Organization among 'variants under monitoring.' Many people infected with this variant have reportedly complained of intense throat pain, calling it 'razor blade throat.' But some experts are not sure that's a distinguishing feature, noting that a sore throat is a common COVID-19 symptom. Cases this year of the tick-borne disease SFTS had already hit 135 by Aug. 10, topping last year's total (134) and marking a record high. | GETTY IMAGES Other symptoms reported so far include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, constipation and stomach pain, according to health experts in the U.K. The WHO said in its risk assessment report in May that 'there are no reports to suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants.' The health ministry advises people with a high fever and other light cold-like symptoms to test for the coronavirus at home or consult local doctors. SFTS SFTS (severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome) is a tick-borne disease caused by ticks infected with a virus. A total of 1,071 people were reported as having been infected in Japan between March 2013, when record-keeping began, through the end of April, with the number on the rise in recent years. By Aug. 10, cases this year had already hit 135, topping last year's total (134) and marking a record high. SFTS used to be reported only in warmer western regions, but it has recently been detected in eastern Japan. Earlier this month, a man in his 60s was infected in Hokkaido, a first in the northernmost prefecture. Experts say climate change has contributed to the expansion of habitats for ticks and the periods when they are active, raising the alarm about the further spread of SFTS and other tick-borne diseases. The SFTS virus survives in nature through tick-to-tick infections and tick-to-mammal infections. Older people are particularly susceptible, and the fatality rate is estimated at 27%, according to experts who compiled treatment guidelines last year. Symptoms start with fever, a sense of fatigue and headaches, then progress to vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Even when not fatal, it can trigger severe complications. Last year, the health ministry approved the oral antiviral drug Avigan, known generically as favipiravir, for SFTS in patients with severe conditions. The ministry urges people to reduce skin exposure when hiking in nature and farming. Long-sleeve shirts and long pants are recommended, as well as the use of bug repellants. If bitten by a tick, visit a dermatologist to have it removed safely.
