In a bold move to fight the dangers of record-breaking summer temperatures, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced it will waive basic water utility fees for all residents for four months starting this summer.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the ¥36 billion ($250 million) subsidy aims to help residents stay safe amid increasingly extreme weather. “We want to ensure Tokyoites can live in peace, even during this scorching summer,” Koike stated.
Last summer, Tokyo saw a record 263 heatstroke-related deaths. Many victims had air conditioners but chose not to use them due to high energy costs. The Tokyo Fire Department revealed that over 60% of fatal heatstroke cases indoors involved people who had not turned on their AC units.
Officials hope that cutting water costs will ease the financial burden and encourage people to use air conditioning and other cooling methods more freely.
Base water fees—typically ranging from ¥860 ($6) to ¥1,460 ($10) per month depending on pipe size—will be waived. However, additional charges based on actual water usage will still apply.
Japan experienced its hottest summer ever last year, with average temperatures 1.76°C above the 30-year norm. In Tokyo alone, nearly 8,000 people were hospitalized for heatstroke between June and September.
Tokyo, home to over 14 million people and more than 7 million households, is taking this step as part of broader efforts to reduce heat-related illnesses and fatalities, especially among the elderly.