Concerned about reducing the number of deaths caused each summer by more intense heat waves, the Tokyo metropolitan government has decided to exempt residents of the Japanese capital from a portion of their water bills. "We will cover the fixed cost of water supply as an exceptional measure this summer," Governor Yuriko Koike announced on Tuesday, May 20. "We are worried that people are not using their air conditioners because they are concerned about the cost of living. We have considered what we could do to help them pay their bills." The variable part of the water bill – the amount consumed – is not included.

Summers in Tokyo are hot and humid − even stifling. In August, average temperatures in the capital reach 34°C (93°F) with 78% humidity. The heat is made worse by the "urban heat island" effect caused by the construction of large buildings, an effect that the expansion of green spaces and rooftop gardens has not managed to offset. These large complexes restrict air circulation, especially the breezes that blow in from Tokyo Bay.

At the same time, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), because of global warming, temperatures recorded in June, July and August 2024 in Japan were 1.76 degrees higher than the average between 1991 and 2020.

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