Japan is plagued for the fourth consecutive day by a heatwave with the capital setting a record for the highest June temperature in nearly 150 years and authorities warning that power supply remains quite limited and there may be power outages.
The heatwave comes less than two weeks before parliamentary elections in which prices - including the cost of electricity - are among the key issues that polls show are on the minds of voters and have led to a decline in the government's approval rating.
At the same time, politicians, including the governor of Tokyo, are calling for cuts in energy prices.
The temperature in the capital was 35.1 degrees Celsius at 1:00 p.m. today after three consecutive days where the mercury reached 35 degrees-the worst heat wave for June since records began being kept in 1875.
When will it subside
And the heat wave is not expected to subside: the Japan Meteorological Agency predicts the temperature in the capital will be 36 degrees on Thursday and 35 degrees on Friday.
With warnings about the risk of heatstroke in some parts of the country today, hospitalizations rose early in the day.
Many residents in the capital and other areas continued to ignore a government recommendation to reduce the risk of heatstroke by taking off masks indoors, a remnant of two years of mandatory use due to the pandemic.
For a second day, authorities asked consumers in the Tokyo area to conserve energy to avoid power outages.
"Obviously there are some elderly people who have turned off their air conditioners because we are asking people to save energy, but please-it's hot-don't hesitate with air conditioners," Trade and Industry Minister Koichi Hajiuda told a news conference.
Already since yesterday, restrictions have been imposed on electricity consumption in government buildings by reducing lighting and elevator operation, while electronics stores are shutting down televisions and other appliances that normally remain on.
Politicians are calling for further measures. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has called for a cut in electricity prices, while minor coalition partners are calling for the government to ask power companies to reduce the cost of electricity.
Source: APE - MPE
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