Tokyo: As Japan grapples with a brutal heatwave that has blanketed much of the country in sweltering temperatures, companies are rolling out urgent safety measures to protect outdoor workers. With over 30 of Japan’s 47 prefectures under official heatstroke alerts, employers have been compelled to act swiftly amid rising concerns over worker health and safety.
The current heatwave, one of the most severe in recent memory, has forced the Japanese government to tighten labor safety laws. New mandates introduced this month require firms with outdoor operations to ensure that their workers are equipped with heat-mitigating gear, have access to shaded or air-conditioned rest areas, and receive regular hydration breaks. The regulations also encourage limiting the number of hours employees are exposed to direct sunlight during peak heat periods.
Among the businesses leading this shift is Daito Trust Construction, a major property developer that has introduced advanced cooling jackets for its site workers. The vests, embedded with fans and thermoelectric cooling plates, help regulate body temperature and reduce the risk of heatstroke. These high-tech garments, once considered a luxury, are now becoming standard across many sectors vulnerable to extreme heat.
Construction worker Atsushi Mizutani, 47, shared that the jackets made a noticeable difference in his endurance and comfort, saying, “I don’t sweat as much, and I can work longer without getting tired.” His foreman, Takami Okamura, with over three decades of experience in the field, noted that the level of attention being given to heat protection is unprecedented: “We’ve never seen this kind of effort or technology before this summer is unlike any other.”
Data from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare shows that construction workers alone accounted for nearly one-fifth of workplace heatstroke cases in recent years. These figures have sparked a national debate about occupational health in the face of climate change, which has pushed summer temperatures in parts of Japan beyond 40°C (104°F) in recent days.
The urgency has also reached other industries. Logistics firms, delivery services, utility maintenance teams, and agricultural workers are among those most at risk. Some employers are experimenting with mobile cooling stations, wearable hydration monitors, and AI-based alert systems that detect heat stress symptoms before they become dangerous.
This shift in policy and practice reflects a broader national reckoning with the realities of a warming planet. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, June 2025 was among the hottest on record, echoing global trends of rising average temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events. Experts warn that such heatwaves, once seen as rare anomalies, are becoming a recurring threat.
Satoshi Yamamoto, a climate policy expert at the University of Tokyo, stated, “What we’re seeing now is not just a freak event. This is the new normal, and Japan must adapt not just through technology, but through robust policies that prioritize worker safety.”
Japan’s latest measures signal a crucial evolution in how both government and industry are responding to climate-driven occupational hazards. But with hotter summers predicted in the years ahead, these steps may just be the beginning of a broader transformation in how the country works under the sun.