# Japan registers first 'cruelly hot day' as cities hit 40°C

Japan recorded its first official "cruelly hot day" as multiple cities sweltered in temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The country's meteorological agency uses this term for extreme heat posing serious health risks. The event underscores the growing severity of heatwaves driven by climate change.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/22/japan-heat-kokushobi-cruelly-hot-40c-weather) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 03:48:04 GMT
- [BBC World](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3rz07grngo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:00:24 GMT