Japan sees record‑long streak of 40°C+ heat days as forecast warns of week‑long scorching temperatures

From July 21 to 25, several locations in Japan recorded temperatures above 40 °C, creating the country's longest consecutive run of "酷暑日" (extremely hot days) at five days straight—a first in meteorological history. Gifu’s Mino City hit 40.8 °C, while other sites in Shizuoka, Yamanashi and Tokyo also posted record highs, with Tokyo surpassing 37 °C for six consecutive days.

Meteorological services have warned that the Kansai region, including Osaka, Kyoto, Ōtsu and nearby cities, will face a week of "all scorching days" with maximum temperatures expected to exceed 35 °C. The heat comes as traditional events such as Ise Shrine’s wood‑transport ceremony proceed under unusually intense conditions, highlighting the widespread impact of the extreme weather.