From July 13 to 19, 10,857 people were rushed to hospitals by ambulance, more than double the same period last year. In Tokyo, 453 people received treatment in one day, setting a new record.
According to the Tokyo Fire Department, 453 people in Tokyo received hospital treatment for heat-related issues on Wednesday, the highest number since records began in 2010. Emergency callouts also reached the highest level since at least 1963. Nationwide, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported at least 14 deaths and 11,000 people seeking emergency care over the previous week.
The agency described the extreme heat as a "disaster," issuing heatstroke alerts across nearly the entire country of 125 million people. Temperatures hit 41.1C in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture and 40.8C in Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture.
Japan's previous record high of 41.8C was set on August 5, 2025, in Isesaki. Scientists have linked the increased frequency of such events to human-induced climate change.
