A home improvement store in a part of Japan known for its cool summers says it's already sold out of air conditioners and fans. Kushiro City is having a record-hot summer, prompting overheated residents to find ways of keeping cool.
The city is in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido. Its average high temperature in summer is around 20 degrees Celsius. But this year has been very different. The mercury has been topping 30 degrees.
When the store opened last month, it stocked 130 fans, as well as 70 air conditioners and spot coolers. But the items disappeared in just four days. Rather than leave the shelves empty, the store is using them to stock heating products.
(Assistant store manager)
“Hokkaido has been sweltering, and product supplies haven't kept up with demand. We want to offer air conditioners and other products as soon as we can.”
The store received an extra order of fans last week. But they were sold out by Sunday.