In Japan, temperatures exceed 40°C for fifth consecutive day — longest streak since 2010

In Japan, temperatures exceed 40°C for fifth consecutive day — longest streak since 2010. When summer ceases to be a time for holidays and becomes an endurance test, thermometers soaring past 40 degrees become a symbol of a new climate reality. Japan, known for its temperate climate and rainy season, has found itself in the grip of an unprecedented heatwave: for five straight days, temperatures in various prefectures have hit the mark that forecasters now officially call "kokushobi" — an "unbearably hot day". This is not just a record but a warning that extreme heat is becoming the norm.

On Saturday, temperatures in parts of Japan continued to rise, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius for the fifth consecutive day, according to the meteorological agency. On Saturday, temperatures rose to 40°C or above in six cities in central Japan, including all four prefectures of the Tokai region — Shizuoka, Gifu, Mie and Aichi — marking the fifth straight day that the country recorded temperatures of 40°C or higher. This is the longest such streak since comparative data became available in 2010, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

In Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, a temperature of 40.6°C was recorded, while in Gifu Prefecture, the cities of Mino and Tajimi saw temperatures rise to 40.8°C and 40.7°C respectively. Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture recorded 40.3°C, and Toyota in Aichi Prefecture recorded 40.0°C. Meanwhile, Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, located northeast of Shizuoka, also recorded 40.0°C, making it the first place outside the Tokai region to record a "kokushobi" — or "unbearably hot day" — this year.

In April, the JMA introduced the term "kokushobi" to describe days when temperatures reach 40°C, in order to more effectively warn the public about extreme heat. Traditionally, the Japanese summer is associated with high humidity and monsoon rains, but in recent years the country has increasingly faced heatwaves that damage public health, agriculture and the power grid.

As CCTV+ reports. Meteorologists link this trend to global warming and shifting atmospheric circulation patterns, and forecasts suggest such events will become more frequent.