"Electricity Bill Feels Wasteful"... Despite 40°C Heatwave, People in Japan Collapse Without Using Air Conditioners

Heatstroke Deaths Surge in Scorching Heat
3 Out of 10 Avoid Using Air Conditioners in Summer

In Japan, a scorching heatwave with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Celsius has continued for the second consecutive day. As a result, the number of patients suffering from heat-related illnesses is also increasing. Cases of heatstroke deaths are occurring not only among the elderly but also among teenagers.

According to NHK on the 30th (local time), the intense heat close to 40 degrees Celsius continued on the 31st as well. The highest daytime temperatures recorded were 39 degrees in Saitama City, 36 degrees in central Tokyo, Kyoto, and Fukushima, and 35 degrees in Osaka and Sendai.

Currently, the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued heatstroke warning alerts for most regions of the Japanese archipelago, except for the northern areas such as Hokkaido and Akita. The current extreme heatwave is expected to continue until the 4th of next month.

Summer heat in Japan.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of heatstroke deaths is also increasing. In Tokyo, on the 29th, a man in his 90s and a woman in her 80s, a married couple, were found dead on their bed. On the 30th, another couple in their 70s died inside their home. At that time, the air conditioner was turned off indoors. Local fire authorities believe it is highly likely that the deceased died from heatstroke.

The heatwave is threatening not only the elderly but also teenagers. In Yamagata Prefecture, on the 30th, a 13-year-old female middle school student collapsed due to heatstroke symptoms while participating in club activities outdoors. She was taken to a nearby hospital but ultimately passed away.

"It's a waste of electricity" - Japan refrains from using air conditioners, worsening heatstroke

A woman holding a parasol is passing in front of a securities company in Tokyo.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Amid the rapid increase in heatstroke patients in Japan, many people’s reluctance to use air conditioners is exacerbating the risk of the illness.

According to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun on the 14th, Daikin, an air conditioner manufacturing company, conducted a survey of 1,046 Japanese men and women aged 20 to 60. The results showed that 40.4% responded that they do not use air conditioners even during the rainy season, and 31.3% said they do not use them during the summer.

In other words, even after the rainy season ends, about 3 out of 10 Japanese people endure the midsummer heat without air conditioning. The top reason given for not using air conditioners was "it's a waste of electricity." Air conditioners are known to account for about 34% of household appliance electricity consumption in Japan.

Japanese fire authorities believe that the atmosphere of refraining from using air conditioners will further worsen the heatstroke problem. According to media reports, a survey by the Tokyo Fire Department found that more than 90% of heatstroke fatalities were not using air conditioners at the time of death.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.