Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has officially unveiled a new term for days when temperatures reach 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher. The term "kokushobi" is translated as "cruelly hot," "brutally hot," or "severely hot" day. It emerged as the most popular choice in a national online survey, with "super extremely hot day" coming in second place.

The survey was conducted in February and March, receiving approximately 478,000 responses, where participants selected their preferred term from 13 options to describe the hottest day. Japan already has terms for days over 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C. The new word for even hotter weather comes after record-shattering heat hit Japan last year, with summer 2025 being the hottest since records began in 1898, with average nationwide temperatures 2.36°C above the norm.

Last summer, temperatures soared above 40°C on nine days between June and August, with a new national peak of 41.8°C recorded in the city of Isesaki. The cumulative number of extremely hot days also surpassed the previous record set in 2024. For instance, Tokyo recorded 25 days over 35°C, compared to an average of just 4.5 days, while Kyoto logged 52 days above the same temperature, against an average of 18.5 days.

Japanese authorities highlight that extreme weather events like heatwaves are becoming more common and intense globally, driven by human activities such as fossil fuel burning. JMA forecasts a high probability of above-normal temperatures in Japan from June to August this summer, underscoring the relevance of the new term as a warning for future climate challenges.

Source: www.bbc.com