TOKYO, June 28 (BNA): Japan saw sweltering temperatures for the fourth consecutive day, Tuesday, as heat in the capital broke nearly 150 years of June records, and authorities warned power supplies remained tight enough to raise the specter of outages. .
The heatwave comes less than two weeks before a national election in which prices, including the cost of electricity, were among the main issues chosen by voters in opinion polls showing the government’s approval rating slipping – as politicians, including the governor of Tokyo, urged price cuts. electricity. reports.
Temperatures in the capital reached 35.1 degrees Celsius by 1 pm local time on Tuesday (0400 GMT), after three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius – the worst bout of hot weather in June since records began in 1875. And a heat wave isn’t about to break: The Japan Meteorological Agency has forecast a high of 36°C for Tokyo on Thursday and 35°C on Friday.
With heatstroke alerts issued in some areas of the country for Tuesday, hospitalizations rose early in the day. Many in the capital and elsewhere continue to flout government advice to reduce the risk of heat stroke by not wearing face masks outdoors – a legacy of more than two years of widespread mask-wearing in public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the second day, authorities have asked consumers in the Tokyo area to conserve electricity to avoid a looming blackout.
Fuji News Network said that as of 9 a.m. local time, 13 people had been taken to hospital in the capital on suspicion of heat stroke. Media said at least two people are believed to have died of heat stroke, prompting authorities to water down their calls for energy savings.
“Obviously there are some old people who have turned off the air conditioners because we are asking people to save energy, but please – this is hot – feel free to calm down,” Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hagiuda told a news conference.
Tokyo’s reserve ratio overnight (1630-1700) on Tuesday was expected to fall below 5% as of Monday evening, close to the 3% minimum that ensures stable supply, in Tokyo and eight surrounding prefectures. Standby capacity less than 3% risks power shortage and blackout.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) said the outlook has improved slightly, but still calls on consumers to be energy efficient.
Monday’s warning prompted government offices, including METI, to turn off some lights in the afternoon and evening, as METI stopped using 25% of the building’s elevators.
Electronics stores have taken similar steps, shutting down televisions and other goods on their sales floors that would normally be kept to lure buyers, and some Tokyo residents saying on social media that they have turned off all unused devices.
But politicians are starting to demand more steps.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike attended a shareholder meeting of Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO) (9501.T) on Tuesday and later said she had called for lower prices, Fuji News Network reported. TEPCO supplies power to the greater Tokyo area.
Although it is expected to do well in the July 10 elections for the upper house of parliament, the ruling Kishida party is facing headwinds from higher prices, which have been exacerbated by the depreciation of the yen making imports more expensive.
The Kishida government’s approval of 50% came in a voter poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK on June 24-26, down from 55% last week.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the junior partner in Kishida’s coalition government, warned on Monday in his campaign speech that citizens are risking heatstroke by trying to economize on power.
“What I really want is for the government to ask the electricity companies to cut costs,” he was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying.
He added, “I would like to call the Prime Minister, who is currently visiting Europe” – referring to Kishida’s attendance of the G7 summit, which means that the Prime Minister is out of the country during the election campaign period, an important departure from the usual practice.
Economically, heat can be a double-edged sword, said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.
He added, “It is said that the scorching heat boosts private consumption during the summer by increasing sales of beverages and household appliances…but excessive heat can limit consumption,” noting that people are staying indoors and vegetable prices are rising.