Japan Has a New Name for Scorching Hot Days
Pedestrians share a parasol in Ginza district during high temperatures in Tokyo in August 2025.
Photographer: Akio Kon/BloombergJapan’s weather agency has formally adopted a name for sizzling-hot days ahead of what is set to be another scorcher of a summer.
Days with a maximum temperature of 40C (104F) or higher will be referred to as “kokushobi,” the Japan Meteorological Agency said in a statement on Friday. The name, which means “severely hot day” but has no official translation, was chosen after almost half a million votes were cast.