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Deadly month: Japan's weather-related deaths top 300 in July

27 Comments
By Ken Moritsugu

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27 Comments
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Do the Hustle,

You need to put things in perspective, learn what geologic time is, over the earths history average temps did fluctuate over 1000s & 10s of thousands of years!

Fast forward to the present, it is a little different & the amounts of pollution & industrialization over the last 200years how the hell could MAN NOT be affecting climate, wake up!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

But hey, according to Abe it is the greatest environment ever for athletes to compete in, if you take his government's word from the bids. Stay safe, people.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

With ever increasing world records as the carbon increases, two years from now it's going to be even worse. A nation that recognizes climate change would understand this.

Human life has to start meaning something to a nation that still engages in school activities during what should be immediate event cancelling temperatures

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The record heat reignited a simmering debate about how athletes and spectators will fare at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

but they weren't extreme enough I guess to spur the media here to even mention the growing evidence that the pattern of extreme weather could and the small issue of climate change.

OMG!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

It is a big shame on Japan, a country spends $trillions on defense system but couldn't save people from heat, only under Abe.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

@starpunk

In America it’s called the ‘Dog Days’...

Uncannily (geddit?), we use the same expression in England. It’s like there’s some weird linguistic link between our nations... ; )

7 ( +8 / -1 )

"Two lingering high-pressure systems trapped warm and humid air above the region, bringing record temperatures for about two weeks."

Yeah, and the fact that most cities in Japan are pure cement.

"Many of the victims were elderly people who were not using air conditioning."

And many more weren't. Not sure why they always try to play things down with this.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Any news on Japan petitioning the IOC to allow the games to run in October? No huh? Why is the news so weak in Japan? Stand up to your politicians

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Centigrade

It's been Celsius since 1948 as a standard and BBC stopped using the term in 1985

global warming

It's been climate change for a while now to not only incorporate the heat but also where cold would be unseasonal as well

Time to update terms or at least add them to your brain

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Who would want chilly summer days?

I wouldn’t say no to a few. If you could do chilly weekdays / scorching weekends I’d be most grateful.

Furthermore, there is little evidence to prove that CO2 production is directly responsible for the current climate change scenarios. 

Apart from the mountain of hand-in-glove evidence directly linking increased CO2 in the atmosphere to increased global temperatures. You’re talking about a cycle over many thousands of years, not one brisk century.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Forget about sympathy for the athletes, organizers and spectators.

The only way to convince Tokyo or the IOC to change the venue or the season is to point out that New Olympic and World Records are very unlikely to be set in debilitating tropical heat.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

After this tremendous disasters of heavy rains to extreme heat I only wait autumn to come, despite the typhoon season at that period of time. I hope it will not be affecting the 2020 the Tokyo Olympic Games. I really want to see the athletes competing well, to feel myself relaxed with my beers, ice creams and lower temperature days (esp. night-time) of less cool air conditioner, not healthy air to my age of upper half-century.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Ice cream and beer sales through the roof! Run to the mountains. Shade and wind do wonders. Beaches, rivers , waterfalls. Indoors with the aircon pumped 24/7 not too healthy. Get out there!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

And, the start of August is going to be no better. The next few days are gonna be in the high 30's. I'm so glad to be on summer vacation and continuing my love affair with my airconditioners. I'll be thinking of all you workers while I'm sitting in front of my aircon learning a few new Pink Floyd solos. Stay cool people!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I always tell my family to drink plenty of liquids and keep cool. It was a bit warm on the trains today and unfortunately, an elderly lady dropped (on the platform) after disembarking. The train left late, but some of us got out and helped this lady. No one minded that we left late. More concerned for the lady. So again everyone, drink liquids and keep cool.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Tokyo is too hot in summer for workers. The capital of Japan should move to north. Sendai will be best.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

ifd66July 31 07:21 pm JSTThe record heat reignited a simmering debate about how athletes and spectators will fare at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

It was the same way at the Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta during 1996. The heat was just sickeningly bad for everyone concerned. Conditions were so horrible, nobody was at their best. It didn't help that so many athletes acted like spoiled schmucks ('Only the Gold will do!') and the announcers acted like very annoying motormouth cretins. And even the entertainment at Atlanta sucked. I hope it's a b etter deal for Tokyo in 2020. I hope they get it together.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Japanese government can pay billions of yen for Aegis missles to defend us

Then, let’s have some more public (free) drinking water fountains in Japan which may actually save some lives!!!!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There are "worst droughts ever" all around the globe. Northern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Northern China, India, the Mekong Delta, the Philippines, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and North America, are all, simultaneously, experiencing drought.

It is past time that we do something to reverse global warming.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

DisillusionedToday 06:48 pm JSTAnd, the start of August is going to be no better. The next few days are gonna be in the high 30's. I'm so glad to be on summer vacation and continuing my love affair with my airconditioners. I'll be thinking of all you workers while I'm sitting in front of my aircon learning a few new Pink Floyd solos. Stay cool people!

In America it's called the 'Dog Days' of summer. That term comes from the ancient Egyptians who calculated that the brightest star in our sky - Sirius, the 'Dog Star' is near enough to the sun (from an Earthbound view) that it adds to the summer heat. Sirius got its nickname beings it's the brightest and most prominent star in the constellation Canis Major the Big Dog.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Water and toilets.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It's been very hot in most of Japan. Even Odate northeast of Akita in northern Tohoku reports temperatures in the low 30's C during the day.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Time to build those underground cities

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Centigrade

Geez how old is the writer? It's called Celsius

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

It’s summer so it’s supposed be hot. Who would want chilly summer days?

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Old news already...yeah it's hot. Okay we get it.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

@sf2k - With ever increasing world records as the carbon increases, two years from now it's going to be even worse. A nation that recognizes climate change would understand this.

Oh, good grief! Yeh be the bringer if doom! Yeah, climate change is real, but it is not the end of the world. Furthermore, there is little evidence to prove that CO2 production is directly responsible for the current climate change scenarios. The Earths climate is cyclic and there have been many extreme weather events just in the last 200 years or so since accurate records were kept. Yes, there is a current trend of a warming planet with increased storm intensity and an increase ocean temperatures and Earth surface temperatures however, this cycle of hit and cold weather has been going on since long before humans evolved. Just calm down and have a latte.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

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