Japan's First 'Cruelly Hot Day' Sets Alarming Precedent Japan's sweltering summer just got a lot more intense.
For the first time since the weather agency introduced the term in April, three central cities – Tajimi and Gujo in Gifu prefecture, and Toyoda in Aichi prefecture – officially hit 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, marking what is being hailed as Japan's first "kokushobi" or "cruelly hot day".
The mercury soared to 40. 3 degrees Celsius in Tajimi, while Toyoda recorded a scorching 40. 1 degrees Celsius.