Heatstroke Alert Issued for 28 Prefectures Across Japan

Japan's meteorological authorities have issued a heatstroke alert for Monday, August 24, covering 28 prefectures that stretch from the Kanto region in eastern Japan through Kyushu and Okinawa in the south.

The warning comes amid a summer of persistent and extreme heat, with health officials urging vigilance as temperatures remain dangerously high across large parts of the country.

In Kagawa Prefecture, on Japan's Shikoku island, authorities have reported a notable rise in heatstroke cases occurring within private homes rather than outdoors, according to local news coverage.

A significant number of these cases have involved individuals requiring emergency transport after collapsing or falling ill during or shortly after taking a bath, a common practice in Japanese households even during hot weather.

Medical experts are urging residents to rehydrate promptly upon returning home, warning that the body can lose fluids rapidly in overheated indoor environments, particularly when air conditioning is not used consistently.

Separately, in Okayama Prefecture, the town of Chiya recorded a temperature of 35.6°C, marking the highest reading ever observed at that location since records began, according to broadcaster KSB Setonaikai.

Forecasters expect the intense heat to persist across much of Japan until approximately August 26, after which conditions may gradually moderate.

The heatstroke alert system, introduced by Japan's Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Meteorological Agency, is designed to give the public advance notice of dangerously high heat-related health risks, prompting precautionary measures before conditions become severe.

Authorities have reiterated standard advice for such periods, including staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and using air conditioning or cooling shelters where available.

Particular concern has been raised for vulnerable populations, including elderly residents and young children, who face a higher risk of heat-related illness due to reduced ability to regulate body temperature.

As Japan continues to experience increasingly severe summer heatwaves in recent years, officials have emphasized the importance of early warning systems and public awareness campaigns in reducing heatstroke-related hospitalizations and fatalities nationwide.