Japan set to endure another record hot summer as global warming persists
Various regions across Japan are expected to register above-normal temperatures between June and August, the weather agency says
The Japan Meteorological Agency on Tuesday released its seasonal forecast for the coming months, predicting a 60 per cent probability of above-normal temperatures across Kyushu, Shikoku and the southern and eastern parts of Honshu between June and August.
The southern islands of Okinawa, the northern prefecture of Hokkaido and the six most northerly prefectures on Honshu each have a 50 per cent likelihood of elevated temperatures, according to the agency.
Another record-breaking summer could extend Japan’s recent trend of extreme heat, with 2025 standing as the hottest year on record. Average temperatures between June and August this year are expected to be 2.36 degrees Celsius (4.25 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 30-year average, surpassing the 1.76 degrees (3.17 degrees Fahrenheit) above average reported last year.
Of 153 meteorological stations across the country, 132 recorded record new highs in 2025. Temperatures reached 41.8 degrees Celsius (107.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in Isesaki, Gunma prefecture, on August 5 – the highest ever in Japan – while 30 locations across 13 prefectures reported readings above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Yoshihiro Tachibana, a professor in Mie University’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology, said the mercury could climb to another all-time high this year.