NIIGATA -- "If you think you may have heatstroke, please don't push yourself -- come inside and cool off."

A notice bearing that message was posted last summer outside convenience stores in Niigata Prefecture, earning praise on social media as "almost too kind" and drawing attention overseas. With another spell of extreme heat forecast this year, the widely lauded notice has once again appeared outside the stores.

The person behind it is Tatsuya Takahashi, 63, who runs three 7-Eleven outlets in the prefecture. The idea came to him last July, when the region was experiencing day after day of temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. While searching online for something he could do, he came across a message posted outside a store somewhere that immediately caught his attention.

"If you feel unwell and think it may be heatstroke, please don't push yourself -- come inside and cool off," the notice read, adding: "There is no need to purchase anything out of courtesy. Please focus solely on recovering your strength." Struck by the sentiment, Takahashi thought, "This is it." He promptly created a notice using the same wording and first put it up at his Sarusawa outlet in the city of Murakami. Before long, similar posters were displayed at his two other locations.

Within days, the notice began circulating online, where users described it as "almost too kind." A customer who happened to see it shared a photo on X, and the post quickly gained traction, eventually surpassing 420,000 likes. It also resonated overseas, where many praised the line stating that purchases were unnecessary as an example of exceptional hospitality.

When the hot season gave way to Niigata's long, severe winter, Takahashi put up a new message of his own. "You must be tired of driving on snowy roads. Then, please don't hesitate to come inside and warm up." It likewise noted that buying anything was unnecessary and concluded with the words, "We pray for your safety."

Those who may have felt the message most strongly were truck drivers stopping at the Ozumi Parking Area outbound on the Hokuriku Expressway in the city of Nagaoka, an area known for heavy snowfall. Online comments included remarks such as, "This really resonates with those of us who drive at night and sleep in our vehicles," and "It reflects the warmth unique to snowy regions."

Takahashi says the idea behind the initiative is to "pay it forward." About a decade ago, he suffered heatstroke while traveling and sought refuge in a restaurant, where he was treated with great kindness. "They led me to a cooler seat and let me stay until I felt better. I was deeply grateful for their selfless kindness."

This summer, Seven-Eleven Japan has also launched a "cool share" campaign as a measure against heatstroke, placing posters at participating locations inviting people to come inside and cool off.

"Even small acts of kindness can come full circle," Takahashi said with a broad smile.

(Japanese original by Nami Hamada, Niigata Bureau)