Hot, hot, hot. The more you say it, the hotter it feels. Today's weather map showed warm air pouring north from the south toward a front over northern Japan, and temperatures rose nationwide. Central Tokyo even recorded 37.3 degrees after 1 p.m., the highest of the year so far. When it climbs above body temperature, you really do wilt.
A new cool spot has appeared at the Palaceside Building. A mist generator installed under the west-entrance canopy has been running since last weekend. Twenty-eight nozzles spray a fine mist, and visitors arriving in the heat cannot help saying, "That feels good!"
The system was installed by The Mainichi Newspapers with a Chiyoda Ward grant for heat-island measures. This should have been a summer buzzing with the Tokyo Olympics. As an official newspaper partner of Tokyo 2020, The Mainichi Newspapers has hung a giant emblem on the west core (elevator tower) of the Palaceside Building in support.
Look up at the emblem while the cool mist settles on you, and wish the postponed Games a successful return. The mist generator is scheduled to run through mid-September, every day except Sundays and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.