Japan farmers shift to nighttime work to combat extreme heat

Increasingly intense heatwaves in Japan are forcing farmers to fundamentally alter their working schedules to survive. With outdoor temperatures frequently exceeding 35 degrees Celsius and greenhouse temperatures climbing above 40 degrees Celsius, midday work has become life-threatening due to the risk of heatstroke.

In Nikko, north of Tokyo, flower farmer Motoaki Iijima has transitioned to working through the night to protect himself and his staff. After a seasonal worker suffered heatstroke in a greenhouse three summers ago, Iijima shifted his operations to the cooler night and early morning hours, avoiding the sun once it becomes unbearable.

The issue is particularly acute in Japan, where approximately 70 percent of farmers are aged 65 or older, making them highly vulnerable to heat stress. This shift toward nocturnal labor is part of a broader global trend where agricultural workers are moving tasks to nighttime to mitigate the physical dangers of rising temperatures.