Climate researcher discusses impact of extreme weather and loss of seasons

At a recent gathering of the Okayama branch of the New Medical Association, climate researcher Yoshihiro Tachibana from Mie University delivered a lecture regarding climate change and fundamental rights to survival. Tachibana discussed the increasing frequency of extreme weather phenomena, such as intense heatwaves, torrential rains, and massive typhoons, which are impacting Japan and the world.

Tachibana introduced the term ‘Niki’ (two seasons) to describe the loss of Japan’s traditional four seasons due to shifting climates. He emphasized that climate change is a direct threat to human life and urged individuals to view the crisis as a personal responsibility rather than a distant issue. He noted that Japan is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather due to the influence of high pressure, the Kuroshio Current, and the westerlies.