Japan farmers adopt nocturnal schedules to survive extreme heat

Farmers in Japan are increasingly adopting nocturnal work schedules to survive intensifying summer heatwaves. To protect themselves, their crops, and livestock, agricultural workers—including flower, asparagus, and egg producers—are shifting their labor to nighttime and early morning hours to avoid daytime temperatures that can exceed 35 degrees Celsius.

In some environments, such as greenhouses, temperatures can rise above 40 degrees Celsius. This shift is driven by a growing mortal threat; in 2024, a record 59 agricultural workers in Japan died from extreme heat, more than doubling the death toll recorded in 2021. The risk is particularly high for Japan’s aging agricultural population, as approximately 70% of its farmers are 65 or older and more susceptible to heat stress.

This trend of shifting work to cooler hours is being observed globally, from rice farmers in Vietnam to winery workers in Spain, as extreme weather becomes more frequent.