By: Phoebe Shi

During one of the worst heat waves in a century, Japan’s temperatures have surpassed 95 degrees for more than a week. More than 4,500 people went to the hospital because of heat stroke and exhaustion symptoms.

To deal with this heat, people in Japan have been forced to cut back on using electricity for things like lighting. The government has encouraged them to keep their air-conditioning on. The governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, says that upping refrigerator temperatures and turning off heated toilet seats would be beneficial.

Japan is susceptible to blackouts during times where electricity is in high demand because it relies on liquefied natural gas. This has become more expensive because of the Russia and Ukraine conflict.

Some ways people are staying cool without electricity include using large parasols and cooling mist. Children’s sports tournaments and games have been cancelled because of the heat.

Managing this extreme heat has proved to be very difficult, as living life normally simply isn’t an option. Taking measures to stay cool and safe is incredibly important, and protecting their lives should be the top priority of those living in Japan.