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Japanese households and businesses on Friday entered a three-month period to conserve electricity to prevent a power crunch amid a record-breaking heat wave, marking the first time in seven years that the government has made such a request, Kyodo News reports.

Unusually hot weather in June has kept power demand extremely high, with supply expected to remain tight throughout the summer due to persistent heat and infrastructure issues.

While a numerical target has not been set for the period through September, the government is calling for people to reduce energy consumption without disrupting daily life and economic activities.

The Japanese archipelago has endured record-high temperatures over the past few days with the mercury reaching 35 C and above in many areas and the hot weather expected to continue.

The mercury in central Tokyo reached 37.0 C in the morning, surpassing the country's "extreme heat" threshold of 35 C for the seventh consecutive day.

In the central Japan prefecture of Aichi, the temperature climbed to 38.2 C at one point in the city of Toyota.

Due to the heightened risk of heatstroke, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is calling on people to continue use of air conditioners and instead save electricity via measures such as turning off unnecessary lights.

A government spokesman also urged the people to take off face masks outdoors to prevent heatstroke as many in the country have continued wearing them since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

"We are asking the public to take off the masks except for when talking at a short distance," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Kihara told a regular news conference.

Energy-saving measures are especially encouraged between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., when solar power generation declines.

The ministry issued a power usage warning for four consecutive days from Monday in Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s service area as sweltering temperatures in the Japanese capital and surrounding areas were expected to result in pressure on the system.