JAKARTA - Three cities in central Japan broke through 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. This condition made Japan for the first time officially recorded kokushobi, a new term for a day with extreme heat.
Kyodo News quoted Tuesday, July 21, saying the temperature in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, reached 40.3 degrees Celsius. Toyoda in Aichi Prefecture recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius, while Gujo in Gifu reached exactly 40 degrees Celsius.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency introduced the term kokushobi in April. The term is used to refer to the day when the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius.
Literally, kokushobi means "a day with cruel heat". The term is used so that the community is more alert when the temperature reaches a dangerous level.
The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts high temperatures will persist in many areas starting Wednesday. The public is asked to be aware of heat-related health problems.
As of 15.00, 731 out of 914 observation points in Japan recorded a maximum temperature of at least 30 degrees Celsius.
A total of 272 points fall into the category of moshobi or "very hot day". This number does not include areas that have been included in the kokushobi category.
The extreme heat occurred after a high pressure system enveloped most of Japan since around Sunday. This condition warms the air at the surface and the upper atmospheric layer.
A number of other cities are also approaching the 40 degree Celsius mark. Nagoya recorded 39.7 degrees Celsius, while Kumagaya in Saitama Prefecture reached 38.6 degrees Celsius.
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