The summer heat may be sapping people's energy, but it is firing up several sectors of the economy as demand increases for products ranging from beer and air conditioners to bedding that claims to keep sleepers cool at night.
Beer- and beverage-makers are moving to boost production, reflecting a surge in demand amid the extremely hot weather nationwide.
In late July, Kirin Brewery Co. lifted the month's output of its beer products by 20 percent from the previous year after seeing a rise in demand from mid-July. The brewery had originally planned to increase production by 10 percent in the month.