Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Sep 3, 2018
Five patients in their 80s passed away while staying in rooms with broken air conditioning at Y&M Fujikake Daiichi Hospital in Gifu.
NEWSWORTHY
National / Crime & Legal Aug 29, 2018
Fifth death confirmed at Japan hospital after air conditioning fails
A fifth elderly patient in Gifu Prefecture has died at a hospital where air conditioning units had broken down amid a heat wave that has gripped the country.
World Aug 23, 2018
by Nigel Hunt
A scorching hot, dry summer has ended five years of plenty in many wheat producing countries and drawn down the reserves of major exporters to their lowest level since 2007-08, when low grain stocks contributed to food riots across Africa and Asia. Although global stocks ...
Asia Pacific | ANALYSIS Aug 21, 2018
As food crisis threatens, humanitarian aid for North Korea grinds to a halt
by Hyonhee Shin
Humanitarian aid for North Korea has nearly ground to a halt this year as the United States steps up the enforcement of sanctions, despite warnings of a potential food crisis and improving relations with Pyongyang, aid groups say. International sanctions imposed over North Korea's nuclear ...
World / Science & Health Aug 16, 2018
Under the sea, 'marine heat waves' seen wreaking havoc on wildlife, putting some in 'real peril'
The number of days marked by potentially destructive ocean heat waves has doubled in 35 years and will multiply another fivefold at current rates of climate change, scientists warned Wednesday. Even if humanity does manage to cap global warming "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 ...
National Aug 14, 2018
Indoor playgrounds in hot demand as Japan swelters in record heat
Indoor playgrounds are proving a godsend for parents looking to allow their children to stay active and safe as Japan sweats through a summer of record-breaking heat. Parents are turning to playgrounds in air-conditioned shopping centers and other commercial enterprises when they would typically use ...
Reference | FYI Aug 13, 2018
Olympic heat wave fears: What steps can Tokyo take?
by Tomohiro Osaki
Japan has become well-known for its omotenashi (hospitality), with the concept being part of Tokyo's pitch when it bid to host the 2020 Olympics. But this year's record heat wave, which has so far killed more than 100 people and led to tens of thousands ...
National | Regional voices: Chubu Aug 13, 2018
Tweet requests public understanding for ambulance crews' need to hydrate
Amid a sharp rise in ambulance dispatches caused by this summer's deadly heat waves, a Twitter post by the Nagoya Municipal Fire Department is attracting attention for asking the public to show patience with the ambulance crews' convenience store breaks. On July 26, the department's ...
National Aug 13, 2018
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Monday tested sprinklers on a street in the capital to see how effective it could be in countering scorching heat as officials look for ways to keep athletes and spectators cool during the 2020 Tokyo Games. The experiment, conducted on ...
Voices | VIEWS FROM THE STREET Aug 8, 2018
Views from Tokyo: What tips do you have to beat the heat?
by Kunio Kanamori
People out and about in the capital on a scorcher of a day talk about how they are coping with the heat wave.
National Aug 8, 2018
Extreme heat above 40 C hits central Japan for a second time
The mercury soared to 41 Celsius in central Japan on Wednesday, tying with the second-highest temperature recorded in the country, amid a heat wave continuing to grip western regions of the country, the weather agency said. In addition to Mino, Gifu Prefecture, where the mercury ...
Business / Corporate | FOCUS Aug 6, 2018
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 ...