Summer in Japan, particularly in Nagoya, can be described with one word: humid. Humidity averages around 60-75% in the warmer months and can go above 90%. Thinking about it, Japan being an island means this should be expected. That being said, it’s still the main challenge of the Summer months. It’s very common for people who work outside or aren’t careful to pass out from heat exhaustion or dehydration. In extreme cases, mostly for the elderly, people have ended up dying from the heat. I have had the fortune of never experiencing a heat stroke or heat exhaustion, but I have had a few friends who needed to go to the hospital for an IV drip from not taking proper care of themselves. I sweat a lot, so my main enemy when I leave the cool comfort of home is dehydration. I regularly go out to meet friends during the summer, and I always make sure to drink a full glass of water before I leave home. Additionally, I will usually buy a bottle of water if we’re going to be outside for a while, or I will chug down several glasses of water upon arriving at a restaurant. If you sweat easily like I do, make sure to take similar precautions.

While drinking water can help stave off dehydration, it doesn’t help with the general heat or my tendency to look like a small waterfall has formed on my face. One beautiful thing about Japanese culture is the existence of folding fans, or sensuu. They’re fairly cheap to buy, and their compact nature means they slip really easily into a bag or pocket. I will regularly pull out my folding fan to keep the worst of the heat at bay, to the surprise of my Japanese friends who never use one. I always respond to their surprise with the same bad pun: there is sense in using a sensuu. You’re welcome to use it too. I’m sure your friends will enjoy it as much as mine do. With a folding fan to cool off, and regular drinking to keep hydrated, the two main threats to surviving in the heat are answered. The final thing is the discomfort of being sweaty. I personally keep a small sweat towel to wipe the worst of it off my face and neck, but I know a friend of mine who uses cooling gel pads. I’ve never used them, but she swears that they keep her cool all day. Either way, armed with my tools, I go out and brave summer in Nagoya every year. I haven’t collapsed a single time yet, so something’s working. How do you battle the heat?