Japan sets record temperature of 41.8C

Japan logged a new heat record yesterday, with the mercury hitting 41.8C, the weather office said, warning temperatures may rise further still.

Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as climate change creates ever more erratic weather patterns, and Japan is no exception.

The scorching temperature in the city of Isesaki yesterday surpassed the previous record in the Hyogo region of 41.2C, which was set only last week.

Tokyo has also been struggling with extreme heat.

"I'm really concerned about global warming, but when it comes to my daily life, I can't live without turning on the air conditioner," office worker Mayomi Saito told AFP.

"I don't really know what I should be doing. I'm just desperately getting through each day."

Last month, 38,608 people were treated in hospital for heatstroke, data showed yesterday, down from 43,195 in July 2024. Last week there were 18 deaths.

In tourist hotspot Kyoto last week the mercury hit 40C, the first time any of its observation points -- the oldest opened in 1880, the newest in 2002 -- had seen such a high, authorities said.

Experts warn Japan's beloved cherry trees are blooming earlier due to the warmer climate -- or sometimes not fully blossoming -- because autumns and winters are not cold enough to trigger flowering.

The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period last year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.