An historic cold wave has prompted 12 states across the U.S. to declare a state of emergency. The extreme weather conditions have brought areas to a standstill, with many grappling with power outages and disruption to daily activities. Regional assistance and support measures are being rolled out to counter the harsh weather fallout.

In Japan, weather-related headlines are taken seriously as the country has a history of natural disasters. Consequently, emergency preparedness and response strategies are important topics. The Japanese people would view this news with empathy, understanding the impact weather disruptions can have on societal functions and living conditions.

Compared to the US, Japan's infrastructure is more adapted to extreme weather conditions due to its geographical location and history of natural disasters. In contrast, certain regions in the U.S. are ill-equipped to handle such extreme cold leading to widespread outages and disruption.