A woman wearing a kimono performs an uchimizu ritual in Tokyo. The splashing of water onto the hot asphalt in summer is an old Japanese tradition meant to cool down the air as the water evaporates. | REUTERS
Jul 18, 2026
Long before air conditioning, people around the world came up with ingenious ways to beat the heat. But, really — wear dark, billowing robes? And drink tea?
The science can be surprising. As big chunks of the United States and Canada roast through the weekend, some of these ideas might be worth a closer look.
In Japan’s sweltering summer months, you might see storekeepers with a bucket of cold water, dousing hot pavement outside their stores.
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