Climate Chaos in Japan: Typhoons, Heat Waves, and the Race for Green Innovation

Welcome! I am Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 120 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter?? The newsletter has been curating Japan-related climate news content weekly since the spring of 2022 and has over 2,480 subscribers. You can subscribe by clicking on the LinkedIn page or the substack link .

I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!

Found this week's insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*note 1: "Climate Curation" newsletter in ???? Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin / note / theLetter . It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you like it.

*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 have been used for summary and translation assistance ??

*As you may have noticed, I have picked many articles from The Japan Times ?lately. I believe the Japan Times has been doing excellent work reporting on various climate stories. ??????????

[????????Japan Climate News Headlines]

【1】Typhoon Shanshan drenches Japan, prompting landslide and flood alerts [8/30 Reuters]

• Typhoon Shanshan battered Japan with extremely heavy rain and strong winds, causing fatalities, injuries, and widespread disruption. The storm prompted evacuation advisories for millions, triggered landslide and flood alerts, and forced major companies to suspend operations. Record rainfall was observed in areas far from the typhoon's center.

【2】How climate change made Shanshan more likely and more devastating [8/30 The Japan Times]

• Climate change made Typhoon Shanshan 26% more likely and 7.5% more intense
• Warmer ocean temperatures fuel stronger typhoons with heavier rainfall
• Global warming is causing slower-moving typhoons, increasing flood and landslide risks

【3】Japan sees joint hottest summer on record [9/2 The Japan Times]

• Japan experienced its joint hottest summer in 2024, with widespread extreme heat days and increased heat-related hospitalizations.
• The prolonged high temperatures are impacting consumer behavior, leading to increased spending on cooling products and heat-coping items.
• Extreme heat days reached record highs, with 8,781 locations experiencing 35°C+ in July-August, compared with 6,685 for that period in 2023

【4】Clocking off: Japan’s hotter summers put limit on outdoor work [9/1 The Japan Times??]

• Rising temperatures in Japan are challenging outdoor workers, leading to increased heatstroke cases and productivity losses.
• Industries struggle to balance safety and efficiency, with some implementing work stoppages during extreme heat.
• Climate change is forcing a reevaluation of outdoor work practices nationwide.
• Multiple heatstroke cases have occurred at the 2025 Osaka Expo construction site, raising concerns about worker safety and project delays.

【5】Can Japan handle a heat wave and natural disaster at the same time? [8/29 The Japan Times??]

• Japan faces challenges in handling simultaneous heat waves and natural disasters, with power outages posing significant risks.
• Many schools and hospitals lack adequate cooling systems or backup power for emergencies.
• Individuals can prepare by stocking water and food and considering alternative energy sources like solar panels.

【6】Japan automakers report lower sales in China, Thailand [8/30 NHK World]

• Japanese automakers are struggling in China and Thailand due to the rising popularity of EVs. They're revising strategies, including potential market exits. However, global sales present a mixed picture, with some brands experiencing growth in the US market despite challenges in Asia.

【7】Toyota and BMW to form alliance in fuel cell vehicle manufacturing German auto giant aims to start mass production in a few years [8/27 Nikkei Asia]

• Toyota and BMW are strengthening their alliance in fuel cell vehicle technology, aiming to produce more affordable models amid slowing EV demand.
• BMW plans to mass-produce the iX5 Hydrogen soon, utilizing Toyota's key components. The partnership also aims to develop hydrogen infrastructure in Europe.

【8】How Japan Ignored Climate Critics and Built a Global Natural Gas Empire [8/30 Bloomberg Green ?? / Gift URL??]

• Japan has built a global natural gas empire, controlling a quarter of all LNG shipments and offering comprehensive solutions for countries transitioning from coal to gas. This strategy has generated significant profits for Japanese companies and secured energy supplies. However, environmentalists warn that reliance on gas may hinder the transition to renewable energy. Japan's government and corporations argue that gas is a necessary transitional fuel for developing economies. The country's public institutions have invested heavily in LNG infrastructure worldwide, while Japanese banks continue to finance fossil fuel projects as Western banks withdraw.

【9】Japan's TEPCO to invest $3.2bn in power grid to meet AI demand Electric utilities build more substations as data centers, chip plants drive consumption [8/30 Nikkei Asia]

• TEPCO's massive grid investment responds to surging power demand from AI-driven data centers and chip plants. This trend is seen across Japan, with utilities in Kyushu and Hokkaido also expanding infrastructure to support the growing tech industry.

【10】Japan start-up aims to launch world's first steady-state fusion reactor in 2034 [8/30 Reuters]

• Helical Fusion, a Japanese startup, plans to launch the world's first steady-state fusion reactor by 2034, with commercial operations starting in the 2040s. This ambitious project could transform Japan's energy landscape but faces substantial technical and financial hurdles.

【11】GX-League and Carbon Removal in GX-ETS [8/28 CDR.fyi ]

• Japan's inclusion of carbon removal in its GX-ETS is a strategic move to lead in scaling carbon removal technologies. This decision could redefine global market dynamics, offering new opportunities in the evolving carbon removal industry and positioning Japan at the forefront of climate innovation.

【12】Top South Korea court says climate law doesn't protect basic rights [8/30 Reuters]

• South Korea's top court ruled that the climate change law doesn't protect fundamental rights or future generations. The court ordered the legislature to revise the Carbon Neutrality Act by February 2026. This landmark ruling, initiated by 200 plaintiffs, including youth activists, could set a precedent in Asia. Climate advocacy groups said it was the first high court ruling on a government's climate action in Asia,?potentially setting a precedent in a region where similar lawsuits have been filed in Taiwan and Japan.

??That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) ??. I hope you will have a wonderful summer vacation!

Found this week's news topics valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*note: "Climate Curation" newsletter in ???? Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin / note / theLetter . It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you like it.

• Please feel free to email me?at hiroyasu.Ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org if you have any research/consulting needs for your business or just want to have a coffee chat?.
• My personal Twitter(X) account (in ????Japanese) @SocialCompany

ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)