Tokyo, Osaka temperatures top 30°C later in year than ever before

Tokyo climbed above 30°C by early afternoon on Wednesday (Oct 21), the threshold the Japan Meteorological Agency classifies as a "midsummer day".

Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST

TOKYO: Tokyo and Osaka topped 30°C on Wednesday (Oct 21), the latest in the year both cities have ever recorded such temperatures, a Japan weather official said.

Warm, humid air from the south swept across Japan, particularly areas along the Pacific coast, sending temperatures unusually high for late October.

Tokyo climbed above 30°C by early afternoon, the threshold the Japan Meteorological Agency classifies as a "midsummer day", JMA data science official Kazuhiro Shirono told AFP.

It marked the latest 30°C-plus day recorded in the Japanese capital since observations began in 1875, he said.

CNA Games

Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time

Buzzword
Create words using the given letters

Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser

Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge

Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less

Prior to this, the latest midsummer day record was Oct 19, 2024, Shirono said.

Temperatures also rose above 30°C in Japan's second city Osaka, breaking the city's previous record for the latest midsummer day, set on Oct 20, 1933. 

Osaka began recording weather observations in 1883, according to the JMA.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events around the world.

Japan saw its hottest summer on record in 2025, with warmer days on the rise globally due to climate change.

This year, the weather office began using a new word - "kokushobi" or "cruelly hot day" - when temperatures hit 40°C, urging the public to treat extreme heat like a natural disaster.

Newsletter

Week in Review

Subscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in Review

Our chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday.

Newsletter

Morning Brief

Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief

An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.

Sign up for our newsletters

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Subscribe here

Get the CNA app

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Download here

Get WhatsApp alerts

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

Join here