{"id":12571,"date":"2026-04-27T10:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/12571\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:40:09","slug":"japan-creates-new-term-for-days-above-104-degrees-as-heat-surges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/12571\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan creates new term for days above 104 degrees as heat surges"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scorching temperatures in Japan are so bad that the nation’s weather agency felt the need to come up with a new term for the hottest of days.<\/p>\n

What’s happening?<\/p>\n

he Japan Meteorological Agency announced that days with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) will now be designated “cruelly hot,” or “kokusho-bi” in Japanese, as Phys.org noted<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This newly coined phrase is intended to inform the public about necessary precautions during extreme conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a JMA public survey, 478,000 participants made their voices heard, selecting “cruelly hot” as the top choice. Other options ranged from “sauna day” and “stay at home day” to “super-extremely hot day,” the runner-up.<\/p>\n

This classification adds to existing JMA terminology, which includes “summer day” and “extremely hot day” for the lower thresholds of 25 and 35 degrees Celsius (77-95 Fahrenheit).<\/p>\n

Why is surging heat in Japan and elsewhere concerning?<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the cruelly hot term’s usage may soon become a regular part of local weather lexicon as temperatures continue to rise.<\/p>\n

Last year, Japan set several records for heat<\/a> during July. That was the hottest month recorded in the record-keeping era, which began in 1898.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Japan was far from alone in the trend of rising global temperatures<\/a>, with 2025 finishing as the third-warmest year on record, trailing only 2023 and 2024. Should global temperatures keep increasing, these extreme days are expected to recur more frequently and with troubling consequences for public health.<\/p>\n

Studies show<\/a> that extreme heat is connected to a range of concerning conditions, including heat stroke, dehydration, and even death. It also can come with major negative economic consequences<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pollution from energy sources<\/a> such as coal, oil, and gas is contributing to rising temperatures and intensifying heat waves<\/a>. While Japan is taking steps to increase awareness among the public for the hottest of days, people may still face dangerous conditions with increasing regularity if trends hold.<\/p>\n

What’s being done about extreme heat in Japan?<\/p>\n

JMA’s move encourages the public to be extra careful in these moments. Residents are best off staying cool indoors and only venturing outside if they must.<\/p>\n

Heat mitigation strategies such as planting trees<\/a> to create shade and easing the heat island<\/a> effect can help in urban areas. Transitioning to clean energy sources such as solar and wind power, or even fusion<\/a> one day, can help cut down on human-generated pollution that plays a role in heating the planet.<\/p>\n

Get TCD’s free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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