_By Abbas Nazil_
Japan is set to implement its Special Heat Stroke Alert system beginning this Wednesday, aiming to reduce the increasing health risks associated with extreme summer temperatures.
The new system, operated by the Environment Ministry, will work alongside the ordinary Heat Stroke Alert system and both will remain in effect until October 22.
This initiative comes as the country braces for another potentially record-breaking hot season following the hottest summer ever recorded in 2024 — a phenomenon scientists have said would have been “almost impossible” without human-induced climate change.
The special alert will be triggered when the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index — which takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation — is forecast to exceed 35 across all observation points in a prefecture.
This alert will be issued around 2 p.m. the day before the dangerous conditions are expected. In contrast, the ordinary Heat Stroke Alert will be issued if the WBGT is predicted to reach or exceed 33 at any one of the observation points in one of the 58 districts nationwide.
This more frequent alert may be issued either around 5 p.m. the previous day or by 5 a.m. on the day of concern.
Officials have stated that the Special Heat Stroke Alert system was established in 2024, but no alerts have been issued under it yet.
In contrast, the ordinary alert system saw an unprecedented 1,722 alerts issued in 2023, signaling the increasing severity and frequency of heatwaves across Japan.
The implementation of these dual alert systems reflects the government’s intensified response to rising temperatures, especially in urban areas where the heat tends to accumulate more intensely due to infrastructure and population density.
When a special alert is in effect, municipalities will be required to open designated air-conditioned cooling shelters to the public to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Furthermore, the government has urged organizers of outdoor school activities, public gatherings, and events to consider postponing or canceling them for safety.
The ministry emphasizes that while the special alert serves as a warning of potentially life-threatening conditions, citizens are encouraged to heed ordinary alerts seriously as they also indicate significantly high heat levels.
In Tokyo and other metropolitan areas, people have already begun taking precautionary measures, such as carrying umbrellas for shade and limiting outdoor activities.
A ministry official stressed, “The special alert is information to prepare for when temperatures may exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
We hope people will take caution following ordinary alerts, which mean it will be significantly hot.” As climate change continues to intensify weather patterns globally, Japan’s adaptive strategies like this new alert system signal a growing need for climate resilience and public health preparedness.
