Aug 8, 2026
Japan’s Heat Stroke Alerts Are Empty Gestures: Kids Forced to Play in WBGT 34.6°C
I took this photo at my child's tennis club at Junior High School a couple of weeks ago. There was a heat stroke alert for Saitama Prefecture on the day, yet club wasn't canceled. I kept my daughter home and texted her teacher to tell her that my daughter wouldn't attend due to the heat stroke alert, hoping she would take a hint (to cancel club). She didn't.
I was still worried about the other children so I went up to the tennis courts in the afternoon, BEFORE the hottest part of the day had even hit, and the WBGT meter at the courts was reading as you can see in the photo - 34.6. A WBGT reading of 34.6°C isn’t just “dangerous”, it is far beyond Japan’s official danger threshold.
The teacher herself wasn't even there. So, I marched up to the air-conditioned staff room and called her out to the hall to have a chat. I showed her the photo in this post, with a dangerously high WBGT and a temperature above 40 degrees, whole-heartedly expecting that she too would be shocked and promptly call off club. She wasn't, and she didn't.
The rest of the story is long and still ongoing. I am fighting for change. But further to the tragic death of Saimoni Vunilagi, I wanted to put it out there for the world to see, that in some places the "heat stroke alerts" in Japan are just empty gestures. They are often ignored and unenforced, and completely meaningless when children are still made to play sports outdoors, without sufficient breaks, in dangerous heat.
Irish, Mom of 4, currently also living beside the In-Laws. 25+ years back and forth between Ireland and Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com
4 Comments
genkidesu
on Aug 9
That is awful! I used to be surprised when I would see heatstroke deaths here, but when you're going up against attitudes like that it's really no wonder it still happens.
BigfamJapan
on Aug 9
@genkidesu I can't get over the teacher's attitude. Even the Prefectural BOE and Municipal BOE have rang her (further to us ringing them) and recommended she cancel on heat stroke alert, but she ignores them. Unbelievable. I will probably do a follow up post with more. If something good can come out of Vunilagi's tragic death, may it be that heat alerts won't be ignored anymore and some real change is made.
BlueButterfly
on Aug 15
I think it really depends on the school and club. My kids school always forbids outdoor activities as soon as there is an alert. Even their pool lesson is often canceled when it is too hot, since it is an outdoor pool. The same goes for the private soccer club my kid has been playing for 3 years. Especially during summer, the starting time is later in the evening, and they only play in the shadow with many many breaks for resting and drinking. The trainer is even telling all the time if somebody feels bad, he has to make a break as soon as possible and tell the teacher. So far we have never faced any bigger problems with that.
BigfamJapan
on Aug 16
@BlueButterfly yes, from what I can tell, we are unfortunate because many people have said to me that their school / club aren't on when the temperatures are dangerously high. I don't know what she hopes to accomplish, but nothing is worth risking children's lives. :-( I am glad to hear that your school / club is more responsible.