Temperatures hit record high

Japan sweltered in a new record temperature of 41.2C yesterday, with the mercury also hitting 40C in the ancient capital of Kyoto for the first time since observations began.

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Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as climate change creates ever more erratic weather patterns, and Japan is no exception.

Yesterday's new record in the western region of Hyogo surpassed the previous high of 41.1C seen in Hamamatsu in 2020 and Kumagaya in 2018, the weather office said.

In tourist hotspot Kyoto the mercury hit 40C, the first time any of its observation points — the oldest opened in 1880, the newest in 2002 — had seen such a high, authorities said.

Japan’s summer last year was the joint hottest on record, equalling the level seen in 2023, followed by the warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago.