The 13th "Atsuimachi Summit 2026" Held in Kumagaya!

Atsuimachi General Incorporated Association (Headquarters: Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture; Representative Director: Yuhei Nakajima, hereinafter referred to as Atsuimachi), with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, various prefectures, and cities, held the "13th Atsuimachi Summit 2026" on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The event was co-hosted by the Environment Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan, and brought together community development organizations from seven cities that have recorded Japan's highest temperatures: Isesaki City (Gunma Prefecture), Tamba City (Hyogo Prefecture), Hamamatsu City (Shizuoka Prefecture), Kumagaya City (Saitama Prefecture), Shimanto City (Kochi Prefecture), Tajimi City (Gifu Prefecture), and Yamagata City (Yamagata Prefecture).

A group photo of the Atsuimachi Summit participants.

This year, workshops were also held to discuss five themes related to heatstroke prevention from the perspectives of a wide range of people, from young to elderly in each region, and presentations were made on initiatives for this summer.

Last year, the domestic highest temperature was updated for the first time in seven years, with 41.8°C recorded in Isesaki City on August 5, 2025. Furthermore, in April 2026, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that days with temperatures of 40°C or higher would be called "extreme heat," and measures against heat are attracting attention. Atsuimachi, along with the seven cities that have recorded the highest temperatures in Japan, will promote heatstroke prevention measures.

13th Atsuimachi Summit 2026

◾️Greeting from Mr. Tomo Iizuka, Director General of the Environment Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan

Regarding heatstroke prevention, he stated, "Appropriate warnings and behavioral changes are necessary. It is important for each individual to raise their awareness, pool their wisdom, and work on countermeasures. In this regard, I believe this summit is a meaningful opportunity to promote heatstroke prevention measures. Furthermore, I expect that through our activities, we will evolve and deepen our efforts while stimulating each other, and that the results will spread to other regions."

Director General Tomo Iizuka

Representative Director Yuhei Nakajima

◾️About Atsuimachi's Activities in 2026

Representative Director Yuhei Nakajima stated regarding Atsuimachi's activities in 2026, "Amidst the rising global average temperature, heatstroke prevention measures, as an adaptation measure against climate change, are increasingly in demand. This year, we aim to promote heatstroke prevention measures that are needed by society by discussing five key themes that are challenges in heatstroke prevention across different regions and implementing them by leveraging regional characteristics."

Five Themes Discussed for Heatstroke Prevention

1 Measures to prevent physical decline in the elderly who are reluctant to go out in the summer

We planned a system for the elderly to have roles within the community and engage in activities naturally. It was announced that by having them take on roles such as watching over children and participating in community events, the elderly can maintain connections with people and be encouraged to go out during cooler hours. Local elementary school students invited the elderly to join them in dancing at the Bon Odori festival on August 16th. University students from Yamagata University presented that promoting heat acclimatization by utilizing Yamagata Prefecture's hot spring culture would also be effective.

2 Heat countermeasures for safely holding outdoor events in the summer

Using examples such as the "Gekikara Festa" (Spicy Food Festival) in Isesaki City and Kumagaya City's "Mizukake Matsuri" (Water Splashing Festival) and "Noryo Obon Odori Taikai" (Summer Evening Bon Dance Festival), heatstroke prevention measures were organized from the perspectives of both organizers and participants. The presentation included proposals for securing rest areas, setting up heatstroke prevention kits, reviewing event times, and promoting appropriate clothing selection for heat countermeasures with an initiative titled "Cool Coord de Cool (Kuru)" (Cool Coordination for Coming). Measures to ensure safe and enjoyable event operations were also presented.

3 What to do when a Heatstroke Alert is issued?

The current situation regarding citizen awareness and behavioral changes in response to alerts was organized, and discussions were held on more understandable and effective information dissemination. It was concluded that not only individual awareness reform but also the entire society, including companies and local governments, should share the risks and aim to realize new lifestyles adapted to the era of extreme heat.

4 Appeal to parents and children to help them understand heatstroke prevention measures

Proposals were made for initiatives targeting parents and children to convey not only "how" to prevent heatstroke but also "why" it is necessary. Ideas for learning while having fun were presented through cooking classes, workshops, and game-style learning content that parents and children can participate in together. This measure is expected to lead to continuous practice by parents and children through active experiential learning.

5 Preparation of "Heatstroke First Aid Kit" and expansion of awareness of initial response methods

The contents of the heatstroke first aid kit, including cooling agents and beverages, were introduced. To make it more approachable, it was named "Hiekyu" (Cool-Q). Furthermore, it was stated that popularization measures through school education, community public relations activities, and collaboration with companies are necessary to create a society where everyone can take appropriate action.

Atsuimachi Activity Declaration

The ideas presented this time were adopted as the "Atsuimachi Activity Declaration" to be utilized in the activities of the seven cities (Isesaki City, Tamba City, Hamamatsu City, Kumagaya City, Shimanto City, Tajimi City, and Yamagata City). The "13th Atsuimachi Summit 2026" concluded with a declaration to make Atsuimachi a better place.

Scenes from the workshop