Record heat broils Japan, prompting warnings

I am so happy I have Solar Panels on my roof and a new house with great insulation. My electric bill is Zero and its been nice and cool throughout the whole house. But there is a problem.... I'm getting practically zero exercise... I just don't want to go out at all.

No need to “not go out at all” in my opinion.

Except for swimming in a cool mountain river. I used to be able to go to local outdoor swimming pools in Tokyo, but 3 have been demolished over the past decade, and one has shortened its operating hours resulting in horrible crowdedness.

But hey, lots of money and construction for athletes at the Olympics for their 3 week event. Who cares about tax-paying people who actually have to live here all the time, eh.

“Japan's disaster management agency has urged people to use airconditioning, drink sufficient water and rest often while at work.”

I know aged people that still refuse to use air-con at night.

Most people I see don’t carry water either.

And as for resting at work?

That just made me burst out laughing....

And amazingly there are people, and politicians arguing that schools dont need airconditioning, because you need to toughen up the kids. Never mind the fact that temperatures are hotter than when these fossils were at school, never mind the accepted medical advice for keeping kids safe. Gaman gaman gaman!

Yet Japan does not promote non-carbon or non-nuclear energy resources. It is a part of the problem as humanity continues to bake itself to death via coal and oil usage. Scientists have been too conservative on the effects of climate change, it is playing out now before our eyes.

Be careful out there. Good thing Japan has plenty of water. Some countries have all-time temperature highs and also drought, such as Australia.

Still not gonna change the date of the olympics though hey, far too logical.

This. Also on tv last night a junior highschool kid suffered from a heatstroke because the school thought it would be great idea to have a tennis taikai outside. Seriously, that just makes my blood boil, if it hasn't already by the heat.

You know some good news? There are many schools who for the first time are using ACs. Strict private schools and religious schools have gone without AC 100% on a “values” based daily system.

Pretty shocked to hear that after the 6 year old died, these places did a policy 360.

No mention of forced summer sports activities in schools. Why is that?

haloerika: Grew up in a tropical country. This is still in the normal day to day bracket. But I guess it’s gotten worse there too, they’re being hammered with stronger than usual storms.

No, it's already way hotter than tropical countries, where in my home country, Indonesia, daily highs rarely exceed 34 C and the mornings and evenings are still rather comfortably warm at 22-24 C until 8 AM, which is not the case in Japan where it's already 30 C that makes me drenched in sweat whenever I go to work.

Please, doing nothing govt do something. At least close some schools to protect children, open public cooling area to seniors, offer free water and drinks in high density population zones, and lower electricity bills to encourage people to use their air conditioners.

from solar-blocking paint 

There is no such thing by the way. You can have solar absorbing paint, or solar reflective paing but you cant block the "solar" with paint alone!

The Abe govt just doesn't understand that when temperature goes above 40 C it will generate a lot of health problems, more than the death toll. If this will last for another week and if the govt still does nothing, I will advise people to move to mainland China as refugees.

This. Also on tv last night a junior highschool kid suffered from a heatstroke because the school thought it would be great idea to have a tennis taikai outside. Seriously, that just makes my blood boil, if it hasn't already by the heat.

I saw that too. Setting aside the asinine/typical decision on the part of the school and coaches, what bugs me the most about such things is the complicity of parents. If my daughter were at that age, she would sit out or mysteriously have a sick day or week. If the coach had an issue with that, she would quit, mandatory club participation be damned. If bullying or any other b-s ensued, she'd go to another school. I know not every parent has such options, but if you're not willing to make some waves even where your child's life is concerned...

One thing I'm depressed about concerning summers in Japan is the reduced number of public swimming pools. Just in the past 20 years I know of at least four public swimming pools that have closed down.

(I'm talking about the inexpensive public ones that are usually outside with dozens of kids playing in them. Not the more expensive swimming club, health club, or water resort pools which are all much more expensive.)

When I was a kid here there were public pools everywhere and I spent a lot of time at them. I knew that no matter where I went during the summer I could go swimming somewhere for 50 yen to 150 yen.

I feel sorry for the guys who work out side, like construction workers, cops, road workers, these guys like me work out side and we don't have the luxury of working in a air con office, its been bad enough here in the UK and it only been 30-32 degrees, so god knows what 40 would be like.

In Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 Olympics, this is how organizers described the weather in late July to early August:

“With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform at their best.”

And the IOC fell for it.

SaikoPhysco, you can play games for exercising, like kinetic sport games on xbox.

Still not gonna change the date of the olympics though hey, far too logical.

I've seen some comments along the lines of "this is just Japanese summer", but this is not normal. In my town, this is nailed on to be the hottest July since 1994, the previous record which will be exceeded if this keeps up. It hasn't rained since the torrential rains of July 7/8, basically for two weeks. Normally in July we get a shower or more every couple of days.

There always seem to be a group of people on this website who wish to talk down Japan or who just think they area superior to Japanese or Japan.

I think a lot of them have never lived anywhere other than where they grew up, and Japan. So they see something in Japan that isn't at what they perceive it to be in their home country, and suddenly Japan is 'the worst in the world' or 'doesn't know how to deal with X'.

Much of the time these people don't realize that something that has been brought to their attention in Japan may not have been something they noticed in their home country, due to differences in reporting etc.

Most people would do good to fact check themselves from time to time, and to accept when they've been wrong due to a mistaken assumption. It's embarrassing - it happens to me here from time to time, but it's more embarrassing to be pushing something you were wrong with in the first place, than it is to admit you were wrong and have now been shown the mistake in your ways.

Disillusioned has been going on about how Australia is so much better than Japan when it comes to heatwaves for days now. I'm suspecting he never once fact checked himself on that.

Record heat broils Japan, prompting warnings

How about

Record heat broils Japan, prompting urge for nationwide to turn on Air Conditioning

Oh and the solar blocking paint mentioned here cost a small fortune.

It's getting hotter we all agree, the rainy season has failed again, water storage is frighteningly low. Kids elderly are dying yet still the old work in fields wrapped up for winter, don't use AC because it costs too much. Or it's not traditionally done. Children are doing group activity in the hottest part of the day. The government are clueless or worse and are making no genuine effort to change these practices, it's going to get hotter year on year. As usual a panicked suprised retro action will come next year.

Climate change is real.  Foe whatever reason.  Look all over the globa and see freak weather - torrential rain, record temperatures, freak tsunamis etc.

Strangerland

Thank you! Its important to not go around believing false information. Good on ya for getting actual info.

Akie

Because its hot and sunny you’d like the incompetent government to close schools?

Well our large chain of schools will be open and doing out best to help the families and kidz. What kinda logoc is that? Most of the families would be pretty upset if the schools shut down.

 At least close some schools to protect children, 

It is summer vacation in most places, in the reverse, if it's anything like down here, open schools that have pools and let the kids play, and if they have AC, open up the libraries in the schools and have the kids come and do their homework there!

Well our large chain of schools will be open and doing out best to help the families and kidz

Sounds more like a juku or eikaiwa

"at work" outdoors, perhaps? Anyway, had the weather on earlier and the lady was holding up a suitou and parasol, urging viewers to use them, as if we're 9. Maybe if you didn't infantilize your population since birth, they'd make wiser decisions on their own, without authorities dictating what should be common sense.

Don't fret--it's like that everywhere now. Example-in Canada telling people they should stay indoor with windchill in the -40C range or in summer don't stand under a big tree and watch the thunderstorms roll by. Much better to seek shelter.

Seems today people can't think...they hope there is an app for everything.

@Do the hustle.....Watching TV last night the NHK news was doing just as you say. Not sure about posters, etc. but the news was (and has been) advising people with quite a bit more advice than just "be careful"

Kobe White Bar Owner - the paint is expensive but we've just had a lot of work done on our house, and factoring in the cost of scaffolding, labour, etc., it didn't make much difference to the cost of the total bill.

We got the lightest shade of grey available (white would not have looked good) and upstairs is definitely cooler than last year and the tiles are cool to the touch once the sun goes down. I'd recommend them if you're getting your house renovated.

And yet, kids are still expected to go to school club and play on bright dirt fields in the PEAK of this, and people still expected to go to work on packed trains, etc.

Picture reminds me it's all steel and concrete. A few trees, but nothing grand enough to provide shade and cooling effects. Only concrete heat effects

Oh no Disillusioned...look!

It is estimated that around 2,000 people across Victoria and South Australia were treated for heat stroke and other effects of the heat wave. According to a Monash University study of funeral notices, more than 200 people died as a result of the heat wave. A 45% increase in the death rate was noted during the time.

Heres a link so you can understand that Aussies also get affected by the sun and no, its not that we Japanese are so so stupid.

The article is called “Heat Waves are Australia’s DEADLIEST natural hazard”

enjoy

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-18/heatwaves-australias-deadliest-hazard-why-you-need-plan/9338918

Do Japanese people have a higher tolerance for heat? They usually seem so cool and unflustered, whilst I'm standing in a puddle of my own sweat, glugging litres of cold water.

Looks like some blissfully cooler weather is on the horizon for the weekend. Possibly even some RAIN! :)

they don't know how to hydrate properly. Drinking green tea will kill you in these temps. It is a diuretic and makes you even more dehydrated.

The diuretic in tea is so weak that it is almost as hydrating as pure water. This is a common misunderstanding but please, correct your own misunderstanding before pointing out others ignorance. In this case "they" appear to know more than you.

What was the product name please as the one that actually works is ceramic. Be interested to know what you used, cheers.

Kobe WBO - the product was called クールタイトf.　It also extends the lifetime of the tiles. Here's a link.

http://www.sk-kaken.co.jp/products/products06_01.html#color

No need to “not go out at all” in my opinion. Just perhaps not in the middle of the day and not if ur elderly, very young or prone to heatstroke and other ailments.

Theres a whole half of the counry thats out playing and having a good time too. The daily media mysteria isn’t needed. They should be printing articles about heat stroke prevention.

"...issued new warnings Monday as a deadly heatwave blankets the country, producing record high temperatures in Tokyo just two years before the city hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics."

Well, it is an interesting twist to cover today's problems by linking it to something that is two years away. Useless. For those of is stuck in this weather and for the athletes, the sentence makes no sense.

Participating countries should be seriously considering pulling out of the summer games NOW, unless the dates can be moved to ensure that their athletes will not die, while old Mooooori, who will be wheeled into a nice comfortable air-conditioned room with some young girls and a cool drink to watch an event he does not undrstand, counting his kickbacks. Then he will be off to a nice chilled limousine back at the penthouse suite they have reserved for him during the games.

It’s crazy hot indeed. Yes air conditioning adds most of the heat. And so does the release of it from the tar roads at night. It’s very important to stay hydrated.

Footnote: Japan is still ok, so chill (literally). At 40 degrees, you’re not even getting started, so lol.

Pretty shocked to hear that after the 6 year old died, these places did a policy 360.

You probably mean 180 ;-)

Stay safe everyone, heard from my friend in South Korea as they are also suffering from heatwave as well resulting in multiple deaths.

Yesterday only 4 hours unconscious . Heat attack worry about my 3.5yr child

@Tokyo-Engr - Watching TV last night the NHK news was doing just as you say.

There are many people who do not watch Japanese TV, myself included. Much more than a few TV broadcasts needs to be done to educate people on how to survive 35'+ temps. I grew up in northern Australia with these kinds of temps and much higher humidity for months on end, but deaths from heatstroke are rare because people have the knowledge and common sense to avoid becoming sick in the heat. This is why Japan has so many deaths every summer. People just don't know how to survive the heat. They don't wear wide brimmed hats, they don't avoid going out in the sun during the hottest part of the day and they don't know how to hydrate properly. Drinking green tea will kill you in these temps. It is a diuretic and makes you even more dehydrated. Admittedly, the majority of deaths are elderly people, but again, it is because they don't know how to survive the heat even though, they have survived countless summers during their lives. And then, you have all these idiot teachers and school club groups sending kids out in the midday sun to play sports. "Ignorance can be cured, but stupidity cannot!"

Disillusioned

You assume Japan is so stupid, but you make some pretty non factual statements yourself.

Green Tea and Diuretucs won’t kill you. In Australia and ALL OVER THE WORLD people die during heat waves.

Obviously better education is key and yeah wide brimmed hats are great and drinks that don’t hydrate you as well as others aren’t the best.

I’m willing to bet that the only difference in ratio of deaths here and in Australia is that theres hardly any people there compared to here.

Tokyo-Engr

The difference is...some folks have to feel superior or be condescending or put people down to get their point across.

Also, heatwaves are a major killer all across the globe. I grew up in 3rd world countries and it killed thousands every summer, really really awful.

I wouldn’t call these people stupid, as they live difficult lives and they can’t afford ACs or to stay in when its hot.

The idea that caffeine can cause dehydration can be traced to a study performed in 1928 that noted increased urination in people who drank caffeinated beverages, and suggested that caffeine was a diuretic, according to Lawrence Armstrong, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and director of the Human Performance Laboratory. The idea spread, and caffeine's reputation as a dehydrating substance was solidified.

But science says it's a bit more complicated than that. [10 Things You Need to Know About Coffee]

"[T]he truth of the matter is, a small increase in urine output has little to do with dehydrating the body," Armstrong told Live Science.

He added that any increase in fluid input will lead to an increase in urine output. "If you drink a liter of water, [urination] will increase," Armstrong said. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't drink water."

In 2005, Armstrong and a team of researchers set out to put the myth to rest. They controlled the diets of 59 healthy males for 11 days, supplementing their daily consumption with body-mass-appropriate doses of caffeine, administered twice a day via capsule. Throughout the study, the researchers employed 20 different hydration biomarkers, such as urine volume and fluid-electrolyte balance, to assess dehydration.

While previous studies had investigated the effects of caffeine over short periods of time, Armstrong's research was the first to evaluate caffeine consumption for a continuous period longer than 24 hours.

The study found that the evaluated hydration indicators, including urine volume, were similar for all of the treatment groups. This finding demonstrates that caffeine does not have a dehydrating effect when compared to the control group (participants who received a placebo and did not consume any caffeine). The scientists also found that a higher dose of caffeine was no more likely to dehydrate a person than smaller doses were.

Link: https://www.livescience.com/55479-does-caffeine-cause-dehydration.html

“With many days of mild and sunny weather, this period provides an ideal climate for athletes to perform at their best.”

And the IOC fell for it.

Well, we know the event schedule is determined by the desires of US broadcasters. Wasn't someone saying recently they also demand the games be held during the lull before the start of football season? I've never seen a report of that but it makes sense.

Since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, all but 3 summer games have taken place in July-August. Mexico City in 1968, Seoul in 1988 & Sydney in 2000. I agree that the above description is preposterous and a different time of year or city would have been wiser but I wonder how much autonomy Tokyo had in making this decision.

@cucashopboy, many thanks mate!

Who cares about tax-paying people who actually have to live here all the time, eh.

Nobody cares about small boys :)

"People in areas where temperatures are as high as 35 degrees or higher should be extremely careful" to avoid heatstroke, meteorological agency official Minako Sakurai told AFP.

"And at even lower temperatures, the heat can be dangerous for small children and elderly people, and depending on the environment and activities you are doing," she warned.

"People should be all the more careful as many people must be exhausted after days of cruelly hot weather," she added.

So, that is the official advice, “Be careful!” Gees! What a wonderfully helpful piece of advice, NOT!

I guess the thought never occurred to them that, the reason so many people die is because they don’t know how to ‘be careful’ in 35’+ temperatures. One would it more poignant to actually educate people on how to survive the heat with TV campaigns, posters and the like.

Yubaru

Nope not an eikaiwa or Juku chain at all. More like the city’s largest 子ども園。

Puregaijin

I didnt mean a 360!, Yep a 180 sounds better. lol, I’m forgetting English. Stay cool today.

@cucashopboy

What was the product name please as the one that actually works is ceramic. Be interested to know what you used, cheers.

Goodlucktoyou, use your refrigerator for wet towels in case needed. Good luck to you and your child.

@thepersoniamnow - You are correct. The heat kills people everywhere when temperatures reach a certain level. This happens somewhere every year in my home country, the U.S., it happens in Europe, and yes it happens in Australia as well.

There always seem to be a group of people on this website who wish to talk down Japan or who just think they area superior to Japanese or Japan. As an old American I do not feel that way and have learned there is an equal cross section of people lacking this information anywhere.

I am not sure but maybe these people feel better about themselves trying to demonstrate superiority over Japan.

Cheers

Record heat waves and droughts are the new normal. We humans need to reverse global warming before it is too late to do so.

Climate change of course, the new norm, time to adapt and change. Renewable energy.

Japan's disaster management agency has urged people to use airconditioning, drink sufficient water and rest often while at work.

"at work" outdoors, perhaps? Anyway, had the weather on earlier and the lady was holding up a suitou and parasol, urging viewers to use them, as if we're 9. Maybe if you didn't infantilize your population since birth, they'd make wiser decisions on their own, without authorities dictating what should be common sense.

Side note: I do increasingly see a lot of guys using parasols. Why not just go full eunuch.

Japan is really a hard place to live.  Foreigners who came here and live might have come from countries of terrible conditions.

No mention of forced summer sports activities in schools. Why is that?

In Japan the BMI for most people is below 25 :)