Seventeen new temperature records were set in Japan on Monday, according to the country’s meteorological agency. The latest heatwave comes after the hottest June and July on record.
Scientists note that extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense around the world due to anthropogenic climate change — and Japan is no exception.
In the city of Komatsu, located in the central part of the Ishikawa region, the temperature reached 40.3 °C (104 °F), setting a new record. In Toyama City, located in the prefecture of the same name, temperatures reached 39.8 °C (103 °F) — the highest since records began, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
The JMA reports that a total of 15 other areas in the country also reached new highs, ranging from 35.7 °C (96 °F) to 39.8 °C.
On July 30, a record high temperature for the entire country of 41.2 °C (106 °F) was recorded in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan. Due to the lack of rainfall and intense heat, reservoirs in northern Japan are almost empty, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Farmers are concerned that extreme weather conditions could lead to lower yields.
Experts also warn that global warming is affecting cherry blossom season, which is starting earlier and often proving incomplete due to insufficiently cold autumns and winters.
Last year, snow appeared on the summit of Mount Fuji later than usual, at the beginning of November, whereas the average date is early October.
According to the JMA, June and July 2025 were the hottest since 1898, when weather observations began. The agency warns of the likelihood of further heat intensification in the coming months.
The rate of temperature increase varies around the world. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Europe has seen the highest rates of warming since 1990, followed by Asia.
