Japan this year had its hottest June and July since data collection began in 1898 and in August the country logged its highest temperature ever, with the mercury hitting 41.8°C in the central city of Isesaki.
Japanese officials urge the public to seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms during the summer to avoid heatstroke.
The elderly in Japan – which has the world’s second-oldest population after Monaco – are particularly at risk.
Last week more than 8,400 people were hospitalised in Japan, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, and 12 of them died.
IMPACT ON HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY
Japan’s summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling 2023, and was followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.
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.
The speed of temperature increases across the world is not uniform.
AloJapan.com