Mercury tops 40 C in 6 places in Japan, with Kiryu recording 40.4 C

The Yomiuri Shimbun
People standing in the shade wait for the light to change in Nagoya on Friday morning.

The temperature in Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, hit 40.4 C at around 2:25 p.m. Friday, a new record for the nation this year, According to the Japan Meteorological Agency. High temperatures were recorded across the country from early morning, with five other places topping 40 C by 4 p.m.

The other five cities were Isesaki, Gumna Prefecture (40.3 C), Kofu (40.2 C), Hatoyama, Saitama Prefecture (40.1 C), Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture and Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture (both 40.0 C).

The highest temperatures on record were marked in seven places, including 39.9 C in Tochigi Prefecture’s Sano and 39.8 C in Aichi Prefecture’s Toyota. The mercury hit 38.2 C in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward, marking this year’s highest for the capital.