What is Kokushobi, Japan’s new word for deadly extreme heat?
Amidst deadly heat waves, Japan faces a growing crisis marked by significant hospitalizations and loss of life. These soaring temperatures are thwarting recovery initiatives in earthquake-impacted areas. In a heartbreaking occurrence, three lions at a Tokyo zoo succumbed to the heat. In response, officials have issued a heatstroke warning for vast regions of western and southern Japan,…
Japan has introduced a new term to describe its deadly extreme heat: "kokushobi." This country is experiencing a severe heat wave that has transformed much of its landscape into a harsh sci-fi environment. People are struggling to cope with the heat, often fighting for access to air conditioners in convenience stores. East Asia has been gripped by this extreme heat, with Japan recording its hottest temperature on record in South Korea.
The land of the rising sun experienced its first cruelly hot day in late July, with temperatures soaring above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Tokyo's average daily temperature during the month of July was 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which feels like 110 degrees when humidity is factored in.
The official designation of "kokushobi" was introduced by Japan's meteorological agency this year in anticipation of a sweltering summer. On the first day to receive this new designation, at least 260 people in Tokyo were taken to the hospital for heat-related illnesses. Between July 20 and 26, a total of 18,600 people across Japan were hospitalized for heatstroke, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival by the country's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The heatwave has also complicated disaster relief efforts in the country, where temperatures have exceeded 100F since a powerful earthquake struck the southern main island of Kyushu on July 28. Over 40,000 households are still without water, and thousands of people remain in emergency shelters or are sleeping in their cars due to fear of further seismic activity.
The sweltering temperatures are being driven by a series of heat domes, or areas of high pressure that trap sunny skies and warmth. These heat domes are a result of the shape of the jet stream, a band of air that typically moves from west to east around the northern hemisphere and steers the weather we experience.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
