The sun doesn't come out much during the winter in Fukui, Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, the trio making up the Hokuriku region along the Sea of Japan. However, even by their standards, this winter has been historically cloudy in Fukui and Ishikawa, with bad weather especially impacting the latter's disaster-hit Noto Peninsula.

The overcast skies are influenced by a strong winter pressure pattern. In the city of Fukui, as well as Ishikawa Prefecture's Kanazawa and Wajima -- the latter hit by the Jan. 1, 2024, Noto earthquake and torrential rainfall that September -- precipitation, including snow, has been recorded every day since Nov. 26 of last year. This streak reached 50 consecutive days on Jan. 14, and the ongoing bad weather is raising concerns about the health of disaster victims.

During the three-day weekend starting Jan. 11, many areas in the region experienced rare sunny intervals. However, on Jan. 14, Kanazawa returned to wet weather, with thunder rumbling over the city center. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) marks days with no recorded precipitation as "----," while even minimal precipitation is recorded as "0.0 mm" or higher. The last "----" day recorded in Kanazawa, Wajima and Fukui was Nov. 25, 2024, and the JMA is forecasting continued cloudy weather.

Although snowfall and rainfall levels this winter have not been particularly notable, the lack of "sunshine hours" is a growing concern. Kanazawa's average December sunshine duration is 68.9 hours. However, last December saw only 40.9 hours, the lowest since 1946, when it was 28.8 hours. In Tokyo, by contrast, sunshine exceeded 230 hours in December, highlighting the stark difference with Hokuriku. Historically, Hokuriku's lack of winter sunlight has contributed to rickets (called osteomalacia in adults), a disease endemic to the region.

In Wajima, December's sunshine duration was only 32.9 hours. In January, consecutive days of less than one hour of sunshine persisted. Fukui also recorded only 47.6 hours of sunshine in December, about 25 hours below average year.

The lack of sunshine hours, combined with stress from the Noto earthquake disaster, may increase the risk of mental health issues such as depression among residents. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that stabilizes emotions, is produced when exposed to sunlight, and its deficiency can exacerbate such risks.

Tomoko Goto, a certified psychologist who works as a disaster relief counselor in the Noto region, explained, "Because the earthquake occurred on New Year's Day, I feel that the anxiety levels of those affected have increased." She added, "Chewing thoroughly and engaging in light rhythmic exercises such as stretching or walking can help promote serotonin production. If you experience symptoms like being unable to sleep or eat for three consecutive days, you should consult a medical professional."

Goto also suggested relaxation techniques that can be done even in evacuation shelters, such as closing your eyes, imagining a favorite place, and breathing slowly. "Exhaling for a longer duration than inhaling can enhance the relaxation effect," she advised.

(Japanese original by Takumi Takenaka, Kanazawa Bureau, and Ryusuke Takahashi, Tsuruga Resident Bureau)