Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed the nation’s first official kokushobi or “cruelly hot day” on Tuesday, marking a significant climate milestone since the term was introduced in April to describe temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Three central Japanese cities—Gujo and Tajimi in Gifu prefecture, and Toyota in Aichi prefecture—all reached the threshold, with Guso and Toyota recording all-time high temperatures at their respective weather stations.
The heat event underscores a broader warming trend affecting the country. Two deaths attributed to heat exposure were reported on Monday in separate prefectures, adding to a growing toll from extreme temperatures. According to official records, heatstroke deaths exceeded 2,000 in 2024, the first time that threshold was crossed, while hospital admissions for heat-related illness surpassed 100,000 during the previous warm season between May and late September. Across Japan’s 914 weather stations, 278 registered temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, the previous highest warning level before the new designation was introduced.
Long-term climate data reveals sustained warming across Japan. Average summer temperatures have risen approximately 1.3 degrees Celsius over the past century, according to meteorological records. Both 2023 and 2024 held records as the warmest years since 1898, with 2025 surpassing those temperatures by 2.4 degrees above the previous three-decade average. A new national temperature record of 41.8 degrees Celsius was set last summer.
The extreme heat is producing wide-ranging impacts across Japanese society. Agricultural production has been affected, prompting farmers to adopt heat-resistant rice varieties and explore crops like avocados that historically were not cultivated at scale in the country. The popular Koshien national high school baseball tournament, traditionally held in August, has restructured its schedule since 2024 to include morning and evening sessions aimed at reducing heatstroke risks. Tokyo’s governor announced expanded casual dress policies for office workers, permitting shorts and trainers as part of broader “Cool Biz” measures designed to reduce air-conditioning consumption during peak heat periods. Recent research suggests that without significant greenhouse gas reductions, outdoor school sports could become unfeasible by the 2060s.
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