It’s So Hot That Japan Needs a New Word for It
Japan introduces the term 'kokushobi' to characterize extreme heat days as record-breaking temperatures trigger widespread hospitalizations.
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The brief
Japan has officially recognized 'kokushobi' to designate days of extreme, life-threatening heat. This classification follows a period where cities in Central Japan reached 40 C. The designation coincides with a sharp increase in health-related incidents across the country.
Coverage from Japan Today, The Japan Times, Reuters, and The New York Times highlights that over 10,000 individuals required hospital care for heatstroke in a single week. Reports from Japan Wire by Kyodo News specify that 260 people were transported to hospitals in Tokyo alone during this heat wave. Bloomberg notes that the regional heat is expected to persist into next week.
Future monitoring will focus on the impact of these conditions on national energy supplies and the ongoing health toll as identified in the provided reporting.
Synthesized by headlinez.news from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 54m ago.
Quick answers
What does 'kokushobi' mean?
It is a term coined in Japan to warn of days experiencing extreme, deadly heat levels.
How many people have been hospitalized?
The Japan Times reports that over 10,000 people were rushed to the hospital for heatstroke in the span of one week.
Will the heatwave continue?
According to Bloomberg, Asia is set to remain under high-temperature conditions into next week, potentially impacting energy supplies.
Coverage (9)
- Asia Set to Swelter Next Week and Threaten Energy Supplies Bloomberg.com · 13h ago
- Hundreds hospitalised in Japan heatwave 'disaster' Japan Today · 1d ago
- Central Japan cities hit 40 C, officially marking first "kokushobi" Japan Today · 1d ago
- Over 260 rushed to hospitals in Tokyo as heat wave persists Japan Wire by Kyodo News · 1d ago
- Japan sizzles in first 'brutally hot' days of the year Reuters · 1d ago
- Japan Coins New Term to Warn of Deadly Heat Days Newser · 1d ago
- Japan is so unbearably hot, they invented a new name for it The Weather Channel · 1d ago
- As Japan bakes, over 10,000 rushed to hospital for heatstroke in a week The Japan Times · 1d ago
- It’s So Hot That Japan Needs a New Word for It The New York Times · 1d ago
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