Japan reveals new name for 40C-and-hotter days after blistering summer
The term - kokushobi - translates to "cruelly hot", "brutally hot" or "severely hot", and comes after Japan's hottest summer on record.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Key People
No people linked to this story
Locations
All Coverage
The term - kokushobi - translates to "cruelly hot", "brutally hot" or "severely hot", and comes after Japan's hottest summer on record.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has introduced 'kokushobi' as the official term for days when temperatures exceed 40°C, following a significant increase in such extreme heat days in recent years.
The Japan Meteorological Agency has added 'kokushobi' to its weather-forecast lexicon for days when temperatures exceed 40°C, highlighting the growing incidence of extreme weather in the country.
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced a new term, 'kokushobi', for days when temperatures exceed 40°C, following a record-breaking summer.
Japan's Meteorological Agency introduced 'kokushobi' to describe days exceeding 40°C, following the hottest summer on record.

The term 'kokushobi' translates to 'cruelly hot', 'brutally hot', or 'severely hot', and comes after Japan's hottest summer on record.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Why are 'human fridges' being sold in Japan?
As Japan swelters through extreme summer heat, BBC Tokyo correspondent Kurumi Mori tries out a new way to cool down.
August 12, 2026 at 10:07 PM'Unprecedented' rains in Japan kill four people
The storm cut power to more than 20,000 households and left 7,000 people stranded at Tokyo's Narita airport.
August 14, 2026 at 04:54 AMTemperatures to soar to 38C as amber extreme heat warning in effect
Heat will spike again on Thursday with a rare warning in place and more records set to tumble.
August 13, 2026 at 08:01 AMJapan's wholesale inflation spikes in July, bolsters rate-hike chance - Reuters
Japan's wholesale inflation spikes in July, bolsters rate-hike chance Reuters
August 13, 2026 at 12:06 AMJapan's 10-year yield hits three-decade peak on inflation worries - Reuters
Japan's 10-year yield hits three-decade peak on inflation worries Reuters
August 18, 2026 at 12:16 AMMorning Bid: Fed bets cool, BOJ wagers heat up - reuters.com
Morning Bid: Fed bets cool, BOJ wagers heat up reuters.com
August 13, 2026 at 04:31 AM