Japan has introduced a new meteorological term this year — “cruelly hot day” — to describe temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Amid the extreme heat, emergency service representatives on Wednesday referred to the situation as a “catastrophe.”
Heat stroke warnings have been issued across nearly the entire country. According to emergency services, at least 14 people have died from heat-related causes in the past week. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that on Tuesday, temperatures in three cities in central Japan surpassed the new threshold, which has been designated “kokusho-bi” — “cruelly hot day.”
On Wednesday, temperatures in the Nagoya area and communities near Tokyo approached or exceeded 40 degrees. The new term aims to raise awareness about dangerous heat, although it does not introduce any additional nationwide measures.
Consequences of the heat and safety measures
The JMA issued heat stroke warnings in 41 of 47 prefectures in Japan, urging citizens, particularly the elderly, to take precautions. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, nearly 11,000 people sought emergency medical assistance in the past week. Fourteen of them were pronounced dead upon arrival, and the agency has called for the extreme heat to be treated as a “catastrophe.”
“Temperatures have been rising since mid-July, and severe heat is expected to persist across the country,” the agency stated. “It would not be an exaggeration to call this extreme heat a ‘catastrophe’ when many people are being hospitalized or even dying from heat stroke,” the statement continued.
Government measures and long-term goals
Minoru Kihara, the chief government spokesman, stated that Tokyo is working to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, including installing air conditioners in school gyms and encouraging employers to adhere to proper workplace safety protocols. Japan records approximately 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and aims to halve this number by 2030, he noted.
“We ask all citizens to monitor heat stroke warnings in their areas, properly use air conditioners and other cooling devices, maintain hydration, and replenish salts in the body,” said Kihara. “We urge everyone to take these life-saving preventive measures.”
In the rural area of Tochigi, north of Tokyo, an 85-year-old man was found unconscious in a greenhouse on his farm on Tuesday. His death was later confirmed, according to a local fire department spokeswoman. “It was extremely hot in the greenhouse,” she added.
Scientists indicate that climate change, driven by human activity, is making extreme heat waves more frequent and intense in Japan and other countries. Last year, Japan experienced its hottest summer on record, with the highest temperature of 41.8 degrees recorded on August 5 in the city of Isesaki, north of Tokyo.
Source: South China Morning Post
