Northern Japan is currently grappling with a severe winter crisis that has claimed 35 lives and injured nearly 400 people over the past two weeks. The fatalities, many of which occurred in the hardest-hit Niigata Prefecture, have been largely attributed to heart attacks triggered by the extreme exertion of shoveling heavy snow or fatal accidents involving falls from rooftops. As of February 4, 2026, over 15 prefectures remain affected, with snow depths reaching a staggering 2 meters (6.5 feet) in several regions, paralyzing transport and cutting power to thousands of homes.
While a brief rise in temperatures to 8°C on Wednesday provided a momentary thaw, it has introduced a dangerous new threat: wet snow avalanches and landslides. Government officials have issued urgent warnings, noting that melting snow has become unstable and prone to sliding off roofs, often with lethal force. Residents are being cautioned to use safety ropes and helmets during clearance efforts as the country braces for a second wave of Arctic air and heavy snow forecast to return this weekend.
By Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the devastating impact of heavy snowfall has spread across 15 prefectures in Japan, with snow depths in the most severely affected regions reaching a staggering two meters (6.5 feet). Niigata Prefecture, a prominent rice-growing region in the north, has emerged as the epicentre of this crisis, reporting the nation’s highest death toll with 12 fatalities. Among the tragic incidents was the discovery of a man in his 50s who was found collapsed on the roof of his home in Uonuma City on January 21, highlighting the extreme dangers residents face while attempting to manage the record-breaking accumulation.
Tragedy continues to strike the Niigata region, where a man in his 70s recently died after being found collapsed outside his Nagaoka city home; local authorities believe he suffered a fatal fall while clearing snow from his roof. In response to these recurring accidents, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara addressed the media to warn that the current warming trend brings its own set of hazards, such as landslides and unstable, slippery surfaces caused by melting snow. Kihara urged the public to exercise extreme caution and strictly follow safety protocols—including the use of helmets and lifeline ropes—particularly when performing the dangerous task of roof clearance.
In response to the relentless snowfall that began on January 20, specialized task forces have been mobilized across Niigata and its neighboring regions to coordinate emergency relief. The human toll continues to rise, with seven deaths reported in Akita Prefecture and five in Yamagata, bringing the nationwide injury count to 393—including 126 serious cases. Property damage is also mounting, with 14 homes destroyed or compromised, primarily across Niigata and Aomori. While the exact meteorological drivers behind this year’s extreme volume remain under study, snow-related fatalities are a recurring winter challenge in Japan; for context, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency recorded 68 deaths during the previous winter season. With another heavy snow front forecast for the upcoming weekend, authorities remain on high alert as they brace for further impact.
