NEWS: Japan Braces for Prolonged Extreme Summer Heat as Temperatures Expected to Stay Above Average Through October

Japan is preparing for an extended period of extreme summer heat, with the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) warning that above-average temperatures are expected to persist through October due to the continuing effects of El Niño across the region.

The warning comes after the JMA declared the end of the rainy season in the Kanto and Tokai regions on 20 July, when temperatures in Tokyo climbed above 35°C within hours. Heatstroke alerts have since been issued across much of the country, from the Tohoku region in the north to Kyushu in the south.

Weather officials forecast August to be the hottest month of the season, with eastern and western Japan expected to experience frequent temperatures exceeding 35°C. Although September is not anticipated to surpass last year's record-breaking heat, warmer-than-normal conditions are expected to continue well into autumn, with October temperatures likely to remain at or above seasonal averages nationwide.

In addition to the prolonged heat, the JMA has cautioned that higher-than-average surrounding sea temperatures may strengthen approaching typhoons, increasing the potential for significant weather impacts.

To reflect the increasing intensity of summer temperatures, Japan introduced a new weather classification this year known as kokushobi, or "cruelly hot day," which applies when temperatures reach 40°C or higher.

Since the classification was introduced in April, several cities in central Japan, particularly in the Aichi and Gifu regions, have recorded temperatures meeting or exceeding the threshold. On 25 July, Japan also recorded five consecutive kokushobi days, marking the longest such streak since records began in 2010.

The prolonged heat has led to a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. Between 13 and 19 July, nearly 11,000 people required emergency medical treatment for heat-related conditions, exceeding the approximately 10,000 cases reported during the same period last year.

Japan records an average of 1,300 heat-related deaths each year and has established a national goal of reducing that figure by half by 2030 through strengthened public awareness and preventive measures.

Authorities are advising residents and visitors to take extra precautions while travelling during the summer months. 

Officials continue to urge the public to remain vigilant as Japan experiences one of its most prolonged and intense summer heat seasons on record.