Japan has unveiled a new term for days that reach 40C (104F) or above, following the country’s **hottest summer on record last year**. The new description, introduced by Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Friday, aims to better categorize increasingly extreme heat.
Introducing ‘Kokushobi’
The term – **kokushobi** – has been translated by Japanese and international media as a “cruelly hot,” “brutally hot,” or “severely hot” day. The name emerged as the most popular choice in a national online survey, with “super extremely hot day” placing second. The word ‘koku’ in ‘kokushobi’ means harsh or cruel, aptly describing the intensity of the heat.
This initiative comes as **extreme weather events**, such as heatwaves, are becoming more common and intense globally, largely fuelled by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.
Survey and Context
The survey, conducted in February and March, received approximately 478,000 responses. Participants chose their preferred term from 13 options to describe the hottest days. Japan already has established terms for days exceeding 25C, 30C, and 35C.
Last year’s summer was the hottest since records began in 1898, with average nationwide temperatures **2.36C above the historical average**. Temperatures soared to 40C-plus on nine days between June and August, culminating in a new national peak of **41.8C in the city of Isesaki**. The cumulative number of extremely hot days also surpassed previous records.
For instance, Tokyo recorded 25 days over 35C, significantly higher than its average of just 4.5 days. Kyoto experienced 52 days above the same temperature, compared with an average of 18.5 days. Looking ahead, the JMA forecasts a high probability of above-normal temperatures in Japan from June to August this summer.
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