Japan’s searing summer fuels demand for heatstroke insurance
- Last month, Japan recorded temperatures of more than 40 Celsius in various locations, sparking alerts against heatstroke
Customers use smartphone apps to apply for the services, which even include single-day contracts for coverage during outdoor concerts and sporting events, for example.
Already recording temperatures of more than 40 Celsius in various locations in July, the Japan Meteorological Agency has issued alerts against heatstroke and heat exhaustion in many regions, urging people to stay indoors as much as possible during daylight hours.
For the week through July 28, more than 12,000 people were taken to hospitals across the country due to heat-related issues, emergency workers said.
One such insurance policy, provided by a subsidiary of Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. and available every summer since 2022, saw its contracts surpass 100,000 this year as of July 25, including a rapid increase of around 30,000 only in 10 days from July 16.