Key facts
- Japanese farmers are increasingly working at night and in the early morning to avoid deadly daytime heatwaves.
- A record 59 agricultural workers died from heatstroke in Japan in 2024, more than double the 2021 toll.
- Heat exposure cost Japan's agricultural sector approximately 926 million labor hours in 2024.
- Poultry farmer Tetsuya Usuba lost 130 birds to heatstroke in a single month due to a sudden temperature spike.
- New government regulations require employers to establish heatstroke reporting and emergency response plans.
Farmers in Japan are increasingly adopting nocturnal work schedules and other adaptive measures to cope with intensifying heatwaves, which pose a deadly threat to crops, livestock, and human life. Motoaki Iijima, a flower farmer north of Tokyo, has converted his operations to work primarily after sunset, using artificial lighting to harvest crops. This shift is driven by increasingly common daytime temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), pushing greenhouse interiors above 40 C.
The toll on Japan's aging farming population is stark. In 2024 alone, a record 59 agricultural workers died from heatstroke, more than double the number in 2021. Surveys indicate that nearly 60% of farmers have personally experienced heatstroke or know someone who has, leading many to adjust their working hours. The economic impact is also significant, with an estimated 926 million labor hours lost in the agricultural sector in 2024 due to heat exposure, translating to about 1% of Japan's GDP.
Individual farmers are implementing various strategies. Iijima's farm now starts work earlier and operates through the night. Poultry farmer Tetsuya Usuba has implemented a midnight routine for his hens, including automatic lighting, additional fans, and water sprays, yet still suffers bird losses during sudden temperature spikes. He likens the threat to avian influenza.
The Japanese government is responding by introducing new workplace regulations for 2025 that mandate heatstroke reporting procedures and emergency response plans. The promotion of smart farming technologies like drones and robots is also underway to reduce workers' exposure to extreme heat. However, on farms like Iijima's, adaptation remains largely manual, with workers rushing to check on harvested produce before the morning sun becomes unbearable.