Retailers ramp up summer sales as consumers brace for extreme heat in Japan

Retailers in Japan are stepping up summer sales campaigns as consumers prepare for potentially prolonged periods of hot weather, where temperatures could reach 40 C or higher.Some stores are also seeking to draw customers by promoting them as places to cool off and enjoy some time away from home, as electricity bills are expected to rise partly due to higher fuel costs amid tensions in the Middle East.The move follows the Japan Meteorological Agency's addition in April of "kokushobi," or "severely hot day," to its forecast vocabulary for days of 40 C or higher, after the country experienced…READ FULL ARTICLE