Tokyo, July 25 : More than 450 people were hospitalised in Tokyo in a single day due to heat related illnesses as an intense heatwave continued to grip Japan marking the highest number of heatstroke cases recorded in the capital since records began in 2010.
According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 453 people required hospital treatment on Wednesday while emergency callouts reached their highest level since at least 1963. Authorities said the number of patients increased sharply as temperatures climbed earlier this week.
The heatwave has claimed at least 14 lives nationwide over the past week, with the Fire and Disaster Management Agency describing the extreme weather as a “disaster.” More than 11,000 people have sought emergency medical care for heat-related illnesses across the country during the same period.
In Tokyo, one person has died during the current heatwave, while four others remain in critical condition and 18 are reported to be seriously ill.
Heatstroke alerts have been issued across nearly the entire country as temperatures continue to soar. On Thursday, at least six locations recorded temperatures of 40°C or higher, with Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture registering 41.1°C, followed by Toyota City in Aichi at 40.8°C and Kuwana in Mie at 40.7°C.
Japan’s highest ever recorded temperature remains 41.8°C, registered in Isesaki in August 2025.
Emergency authorities have urged residents to stay hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and use air conditioning to reduce the risk of heatstroke.
The country introduced a new term this year “kokushobi,” meaning “cruelly hot day” to describe temperatures exceeding 40°C, aiming to raise public awareness about the dangers of extreme heat.
Scientists say human induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events worldwide with Japan experiencing its hottest summer on record last year. Weather officials have warned that high temperatures are expected to persist across the country in the coming days.