Japan is experiencing record heat. Last week, the temperature eastern Japan reached 40ºC the first time in June. Isesaki City Gunma prefecture, north Tokyo, recorded a temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius Saturday. The hotter than usual weather means people are using their air conditioners more. This is making it difficult power companies to keep with demand. To help these companies, Japan's government has asked people to use less electricity. Spokesman Yoshihiko Isozaki said: "We ask the public to reduce energy consumption the early evening hours." He wants people to turn unnecessary lights 3 pm to 6 pm and use air conditioners less.
Japan's heat wave is set to continue. The weather agency said that the country's rainy season finished its earliest since records began 1951. This means a longer and hotter summer. The government said: "We are struck unusual heat the season. Please cooperate and save as much power as possible." The Tokyo Electric Power Company warned there was a risk power shortages and blackouts if people did not use less energy. There is also a risk people getting heatstroke. More than 250 people were taken to hospital Tokyo the weekend after suffering heatstroke. The government is advising people to drink more water and not to exercise outside the heat.
