Overview
- The Japan Meteorological Agency declared the rainy season over in the Kanto‑Koshin and Tokai regions on Monday, signaling a rapid shift to summer heat.
- Tokyo logged its first “extremely hot day” of the year when temperatures hit 30°C by 8 a.m. and topped 35°C by late morning, forcing many people indoors.
- Three central Japan cities reached 40°C on Tuesday, a level the agency now calls “kokushobi” or cruelly hot day, and dozens of observation points recorded highs above 30°C.
- Authorities urged people to stay in air‑conditioned spaces, drink plenty of water, and watch for heat illness as forecasts predict hot days and humid nights above 25°C that impede cooling and sleep.
- Scientists and officials link the surge to a broader trend of more frequent, severe heat waves in Japan, raising concerns about public health, energy demand, and cooling access for vulnerable residents.