On May 4th, Tokyo’s Nerima recorded a temperature of 30.5°C, and temperatures also exceeded 30°C in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Hachioji City, Tokyo, marking the first “midsummer day” of the year in the Kanto region. Meanwhile, there have been a series of accidents in the sea across the country where people have been swept away while clam digging. Why are these accidents happening?
■ “It suddenly got as hot as summer” – Festivals liven up in the heat The Kurayami Festival is being held in Fuchu City, Tokyo. On the 4th, Fuchu City recorded a daytime temperature of 28.6°C, the highest of the year so far. It was as hot as early summer, but it seems that festivals are even more lively when it’s hot. Participant: “It was a hot day, a perfect day for a festival.” “The heat made the temperature rise.” Visitor: “It suddenly got as hot as summer.” “It was hard to decide what to dress the kids in, as it suddenly got hot and it was difficult to prepare. On the other hand, it was good that the temperature was suitable for a happi coat.” “It’s hot! I made my debut in short sleeves. Short sleeves are the way to go for festivals.” Seeing her eating shaved ice, her boyfriend couldn’t help but say… Man: “It suits you, it’s perfect for summer.”
■The heat made parasols indispensable Child: “It’s too hot, I can’t stand it!” During the day, many people were seen rolling up their sleeves, and it was so hot in the Kanto region that parasols were indispensable. Children were seen playing energetically in a park in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Child: “It’s too hot, I can’t stand it!!” “The wind is cool, but when there’s no wind it’s really too hot.” Parents are worried about their children who are engrossed in playing. Mother: “The fun outweighs the heat. I’m worried about things like when I tell her to ‘drink some tea and rest,’ but she won’t drink it.” Sara (4) was engrossed in eating ice cream for the first time. Q. What did the first ice cream you ever ate taste like? Sara: “Delicious” Meanwhile, Dad seems to be looking forward to the beer he’ll have later. Dad: “Beer tastes so good when we get home, doesn’t it, Dad?” Sara: “You drink it all the time, don’t you?” Dad: “Sorry.” Sara: “Drink some water once in a while!” Tokyo’s Nerima recorded 30.5°C, and temperatures also exceeded 30°C in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture and Hachioji City, Tokyo, marking the first “midsummer day” of the year in the Kanto region. Meanwhile, it snowed in Hokkaido. Cold air has moved into the upper atmosphere, and up to 20 centimeters of snow is expected to accumulate by the 5th. The Japan Meteorological Agency also announced that the rainy season appears to have begun in the Okinawa region. This is the second earliest start to the rainy season in the country, after the Amami Islands, and 6 days earlier than average.
■ More than 20 cars damaged in Niigata due to “spring storm” causing planes to abort landings, windows shattered The Kanto region was also hit by a spring storm on the morning of the 4th. At Narita Airport, several planes had to abort their landings due to strong winds. JR Narita Line and Keiyo Line trains were also temporarily suspended, affecting people heading to Tokyo Disney Resort. Furthermore, in Niigata, strong winds caused damage to car windows, with one victim saying, “The wind, whipped up with fine sand, hit me directly, and three windows shattered at once.” According to NEXCO East Japan, more than 20 cars were damaged and two people sustained minor injuries.
■ Accidents during clam digging continue, resulting in deaths and missing persons. Accidents during clam digging have been frequent at the beach, resulting in multiple deaths and missing persons. At Oarai Sun Beach in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, a 51-year-old man went clam digging and has not returned home; he remains missing after three days. Sandals believed to belong to the man and a cooler box were found on the beach. In April, Oarai Sun Beach also experienced a clam digging accident, resulting in the death of a man who was swept out to sea. On the 2nd, a 27-year-old man died and a 36-year-old man went missing while clam digging at Toyooka Beach in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture. Why do even adults get swept away while clam digging?
■ “Don’t go out to sea” “Be careful of slopes” In the receding current, you can be swept away 10 meters in one second. According to Director Saito of the Japan Society for Water Safety, people who get too engrossed in clam digging and don’t notice the rising tide, and those who go out to sea, are more likely to have accidents. Director Hidetoshi Saito of the Japan Society for Water Safety: “The clams close to shore have all been picked, and only small clams are left. So people who want big clams go out to sea.” Even if you think you’re used to clam digging, you can be swept away in an instant if the waves are high.
Director Saito of the Japan Society for Water Safety: “When the water is waist-deep, your body will float if something happens, and you’ll be carried away by the current. With waves as rough as today’s, there’s a possibility of being swept away.” Even when clam digging in shallow areas, be careful of places with steep slopes. Dr. Saito, Director of the Japan Society for Water Safety, said, “When waves come in all over, the water flows from the higher areas to the lower areas.” According to Dr. Saito, the areas that appear white in the video footage of the coast are where “backflow currents” occur. In these backflow currents, it is possible to be swept away 10 meters in just one second. Dr. Saito, Director of the Japan Society for Water Safety, said, “Even if it looks shallow, even if it’s only ankle-deep, this backflow current will sweep you away along with the sand below in an instant.” While many sunny days are expected this week in areas other than Okinawa and Amami, where the rainy season has been announced, utmost caution is necessary when engaging in marine leisure activities such as clam digging. ▼TBS NEWS DIG Official Website
