Japan Meteorological Agency Warns of Dangerous Heat and Heatstroke Across Wide Areas

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is urging the public to take precautions against heatstroke as dangerously high temperatures persist across wide areas of the country. On Thursday, July 23, 2026, the mercury rose to 41.1 degrees Celsius (106 F) in Tenryu Ward, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, marking the highest temperature recorded in Japan this year. Several other locations in central Japan also experienced temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or higher. Heatstroke alerts were issued for Friday, July 24, in many prefectures from Kanagawa to Okinawa, with the JMA expecting similar high temperatures to continue.