Woman dies of suspected heatstroke in car after Japan earthquake

About 9,450 people have been displaced by the Kumamoto earthquake. JAF's test showed that with the AC off, a car parked in the sun reaches 53°C inside after 90 minutes, and 39.4°C after just 10 minutes. Experts warn of heatstroke risk, especially for rear-seat passengers.

Nissan presented the updated NV200 Vanette MyRoom camper at the Tokyo Camper Show 2026. The model features a Japanese-style interior with wooden panels, a convertible second-row seat, and a portable battery based on Nissan Leaf technology. Standard equipment now includes lane departure warning and power-folding mirrors.

Japanese retailer 3COINS has started selling a clip fan with a timer priced at 3300 yen. The device features 100 airflow levels, 90-degree oscillation, an LED light, and a battery life of up to 12 hours. It can be attached to surfaces 1.8–3 cm thick, placed on a table, or hung from a hook. The product has been added to favorites over 3500 times on the official online store.

Professor Kazuhiko Hanazawa of Niigata University, who conducted health checks after the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu earthquake, has given advice on reducing the risk of economy class syndrome for people sleeping in cars. He recommends getting out of the car every 2–3 hours, massaging calves, and limiting sedan occupancy to two adults or three including children. He noted that during the Kumamoto earthquake 10 years ago many slept in cars, and now the heat may increase such evacuations, raising the risk of blood clots.

Japanese kei vans Daihatsu Atrai and Honda N-VAN, popular for car camping, received updates for 2026. The Atrai RS (2WD) costs 1,859,000 yen, features a 658cc turbo engine with 64 hp and fuel economy of 14.7 km/L. The N-VAN Fun Turbo (2WD) costs 2,024,000 yen, has a similar engine but more torque (104 Nm) and better efficiency (17 km/L). Atrai offers a flat floor for two, while N-VAN has a fold-down seat and pillarless opening for easy loading.

MDN Madonna has unveiled a one-off camper based on the Toyota HiAce Super Long, named 'J'ai Euro Camper'. The vehicle features a full VOGUE aero kit and 19-inch Fabre Valone RM-6 wheels, while the interior is tailored for fishing: cabinets, sink, 1500W inverter, dual battery, 50L fridge, and T-REVO 900 seats. Rear window extension panels increase the bed width to 180 cm. Price is available on request.