Japan records over 10,000 heatstroke hospitalizations in a week as temperatures hit 40°C in six cities
More than 10,857 people in Japan were transported by ambulance for heatstroke in the week of July 13-19, more than double the number for the same period in 2025, the country's fire and disaster management agency reported. Temperatures reached 40°C in six locations on July 23 as a heat dome settled over the country.
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Summary
Japan recorded 10,857 ambulance transports for heatstroke in the week of July 13-19, more than double the same period in 2025, according to the country's fire and disaster management agency. On July 23, temperatures hit 40°C at six locations, with hundreds more hospitalized. The heat dome is concentrated on the Japanese main islands, where agricultural workers and elderly residents are most exposed.
Why it matters
Japan's heatstroke rate is accelerating faster than adaptation measures, including cool centers and public alerts, have been able to offset. The doubling of cases year-on-year in mid-July mirrors the pattern seen in France in the same period, pointing to a broader Northern Hemisphere heat event rather than Japan-specific conditions. Japan's aging population means the health-system strain from heat events is structurally worse than in countries with younger demographics.
What to watch
Whether the Japanese government declares a heatwave emergency and expands cooling infrastructure access; weekly ambulance data from the fire and disaster management agency; and whether the heat dome persists into August, historically Japan's most dangerous heat month.