Japan records fifth day of temperature above 40 deg C
Japan has introduced the term 'cruelly hot day' to describe temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius as the country faces a record-breaking heatwave. Thousands have sought medical care, prompting officials to urge the public to treat the extreme heat as a disaster.
Why it matters
The rise in extreme heat events underscores the urgent need for public health adaptation strategies in response to climate change.
A visitor taking a break next to a cooling mist at Sensoji temple in Tokyo on July 22.
Listen TOKYO – Japan recorded its fifth consecutive “cruelly hot day” on July 25, a new meteorological term devised in 2026 to warn people of intense heat above 40 deg C, as officials issued heatstroke warnings in parts of the country.
The streak marks the longest number of days in a row with blistering temperatures since records started in 2010, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported.
Six cities in central Japan including in the Aichi and Gifu regions surpassed the new threshold for “ kokushobi ”, which translates to “cruelly hot day”, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
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