fan-equipped apparel like vests and jackets favoured by many Japanese construction workers for decades.
An employee lies on a Kuchofuku Co.’s air-conditioned bed at the Heat Solution Expo in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Simultaneous heat waves are suffocating the US, much of Europe and parts of Asia and its already enough to put 2023 on a likely trajectory to become the warmest year since record-keeping began in the 1800s. Photographer: Akio Kon/Bloomberg
Ohashi emphasized the flexibility that fans offer because they can easily be transported to new locations and provide immediate relief. Fans can also limit power costs. Although expenses vary according to the cost of electricity, Ohashi said running its biggest fan for eight hours a day for a month, excluding weekends, typically only costs around 10,000 yen .Many of the products on display targeted outdoor workers. Because of Japan’s aging population many of its laborers at construction sites or in agriculture are at higher risk of heat stroke.