Japan introduced a new term this year to describe heat above 40°C called “kokushobi”, which translates to “cruelly hot day”.
The new term was designed to draw greater public attention to heat-related warnings, although it does not trigger any official measures nationwide.
At least six other spots saw 39.8°C on Wednesday.
Heatstroke alerts were in place across almost the whole country and emergency officials said Wednesday that at least 14 people had died from heat-related causes in the past week.
Almost 11,000 people sought emergency medical care in Japan in the past week, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
Fourteen of those were pronounced dead upon arrival, the agency said, adding that the public must regard the extreme heat as a “disaster”.
“Temperatures have been rising since mid-July, and severe heat is expected to continue nationwide,” the disaster agency said.
“It is no exaggeration to call this extreme heat a ‘disaster’ with many people being rushed to hospitals or even dying as a result of heatstroke,” it said.
Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere.
Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year.
Its highest recorded temperature was registered on Aug 5, 2025, at 41.8°C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.
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