A debate is spreading in Japan over the use of handheld electric fans on public transit, an item that has become a summer essential amid the country's scorching heat.
Argument Over Fan Etiquette
According to Yomiuri TV and other local outlets on the 25th, the debate was sparked by a social media post from Kobara Brass, a television personality and columnist.
Kobara, who is originally from Russia, wrote: "Please turn off your handheld fan on the subway. The unpleasant breeze carrying the sweat that evaporated off your face blows straight at the person next to you." The post added that users should check whether the wind is reaching people to their sides or behind them before using the fans.
In an interview with Yomiuri TV, Kobara also called for restraint in public spaces, saying a strong breeze directed at another person's face is a major source of stress and is akin to blowing one's breath on them.
As the post gained attention, online opinion poured in on both sides of the question. Opponents argued that "body odor or perfume rides on the breeze," that fans "can bother others in crowded spaces," and that "keeping good manners in public places matters."
Supporters countered that "the subway is hot, so there's no other choice — collapsing from heat illness would be a bigger nuisance," that "it's better than being soaked in sweat and smelling," and that "some people actually seek out the breeze from these fans."
A Yomiuri TV survey of 400 men and women aged 15 and over found that 57.5% of respondents opposed using handheld fans on the subway, while only 42.5% were in favor.
Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency also urged caution, citing a string of safety accidents involving handheld fans. The agency disclosed cases in which "hair was pulled into the fan on a packed subway" and in which "a fan that had fallen to the floor kept being used until it gave off smoke and a bursting sound."
Record Heat Persists Across Japan
The debate is unfolding amid record-breaking heat that has gripped all of Japan.
Japan's Meteorological Agency issued a high-temperature warning that day, expecting unusual heat to continue nationwide from the 26th. Highs in Tokyo and the Kansai region were forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius on the 25th and 26th. Nagasaki is projected to soar to 37 degrees on the 26th.
As of the 22nd, 34 locations in Japan had recorded an "extreme heat day" with highs above 40 degrees Celsius, according to the tally. Because of the severe heat, the Koshien high school baseball tournament — which opened early this month and recently concluded — split its games into morning and afternoon sessions to avoid the midday hours. Earlier this month, a 26-year-old rugby player died of heatstroke while training in 35-degree heat.
