Widening concerns in Japan are crystallizing around the issue of air conditioning. The Japanese headline, "エアコン 買えない直せない未来も" hints at the issue: the future where air conditioners may not be purchasable or repairable. With summer heatwaves on the rise due to climate change, the demand for air conditioning, an energy-intensive appliance, continues to grow. However, there is a growing worry about the environmental impact and potential future shortages of key materials used in its manufacture and repair.

Japan is known for its concern over environmental issues and the repairs and maintenance culture is admired as a facet of their sustainability approach. Given that air conditioning is a recurring necessity during harsh Japanese summers, this topic is of great concern for the public. Moreover, Japan's love for technology and efficiency alongside a commitment to sustainability mean that potential solutions would likely involve high-tech, eco-friendly innovations.

In contrast to the US or EU, where consumer culture often means replacing rather than repairing goods, Japanese culture lays heavy emphasis on maintaining and fixing. The question of air conditioning, therefore, takes on a different nuance compared to the Western discourse which focuses heavily on energy-efficient redesigns or alternative cooling methods.