Japan reveals a new official name for ‘cruelly hot’ days

EuroNews · 🇫🇷 public France · Apr 20, 2026 · 620 words · By Ruth Wright

Climate Change Urgency Japanese Cultural Adaptation

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What to know about Climate Change Urgency

‘Kokushobi’ will be used in weather forecasts to warn that extreme heat is on the way.

Claims checked 23

Techniques found 2

Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Kokushobi’ will be used in weather forecasts to warn that extreme heat is on the way.

Why it matters

Japan now has a special name for days that are 40C or hotter.

Common ground

‘Kokushobi’ translates as cruelly hot, brutally hot or severely hot.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Glittering Generalities: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Climate Change Urgency story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Summer 2025 was Japan’s hottest summer since records began in 1898, with average nationwide temperatures 2.36C above average?
How does this story connect Climate Change Urgency with Japanese Cultural Adaptation over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.euronews.com/2026/04/20/japan-announces-new-name-for-days-over-40c-a…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 23 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 13

check_circle Corroborated 8

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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Claim 1: “Summer 2025 was Japan’s hottest summer since records began in 1898, with average nationwide temperatures 2.36C above average.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the average temperature for June-August was 2.36°C above normal, and that this made it the hottest summer since records began in 1898.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and officially branded as Tokyo 2020, were an international multi-sport event held from July 23 to August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Summer_Olympics

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 25th Summer Deaflympics or XXV Summer Deaflympics, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan from 15 to 26 November 2025. The mul…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Summer_Deaflympics

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland, it is bordered to the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Japan now has a special name for days that are 40C or hotter.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results state that Japan has unveiled a new name, 'kokushobi', for days reaching 40°C or above, which is translated as 'cruelly hot', 'brutally hot', or 'severely hot'.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Japan Japan (Hebrew: יפאן יפאן, Japanese:日本日本) is a 2007 film directed by Lior Shamriz, starring Imri Kahn.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Japan

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Japanese may refer to: Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan Japanese people, individuals identified with Japan through ancestr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “This was more than triple the votes for ‘chōmōshobi’, meaning super extremely hot day, which came in second place.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 4: “In an online survey conducted earlier this year, 203,000 people chose ‘kokushobi’ as their favourite word for days over 40C.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “It is the first time the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has been forced to introduce a new term for weather forecasts since 2007, when ‘mōshobi’ (extremely hot day) was introduced for days over 35C.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results state that the JMA is introducing a new term, and specifically mention that this is the first time since 2007 when 'mōshobi' (extremely hot day) was introduced for days over 35C.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2007 Pacific typhoon season was a below average season which featured 24 named storms, fourteen typhoons, and five super typhoons. It was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Pacific_typhoon_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Pacific typhoon season was the second consecutive season to have a slightly above-average season in terms of named storms and typhoons. However, it was a below-average season in terms of accu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Pacific_typhoon_season

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Pacific typhoon season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the western Pacific Ocean. The season runs throughout 2026, though most tropical cyclones typic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Pacific_typhoon_season

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “‘Kokushobi’ translates as cruelly hot, brutally hot or severely hot.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results consistently report that the term 'kokushobi' translates to 'cruelly hot', 'brutally hot', or 'severely hot'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The term - kokushobi - translates to "cruelly hot", "brutally hot" or "severely hot", and comes after Japan's hottest summer on record.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr185nx0n9o

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web search NEUTRAL — TOKYO -- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced on April 17 that it has chosen "kokushobi," which literally means "cruelly hot day," as a new term for days when high temperatures hit 40 ...
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260417/p2a/00m/0na/00…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Japan Introduces New Term for 40°C Heat as Extreme Summers Intensify Key Highlights Japan has officially introduced "kokushobi" to describe days reaching 40°C or higher The term translates to "cruelly…
https://mabumbe.com/people/japan-introduces-kokushobi-for-40…

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Claim 7: “A Copernicus report emphasised that there are two main reasons why the years 2023 to 2025 were exceptionally warm.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “The name won a public vote, with ‘chōmōshobi’, meaning super extremely hot day, coming in second place.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results report that 'Kokushobi' won the public vote, and that 'chōmōshobi' was the runner-up, meaning 'super extremely hot day'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — "Kokushobi" received the most votes at 202,954, about three times as many as the runner-up, "cho-moshobi" (super extremely hot day), and about eight times as many as the next most popular term ...
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260417/p2a/00m/0na/00…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Japan now has a special name for days that are 40C or hotter. 'Kokushobi' translates as cruelly hot, brutally hot or severely hot. The name won a public vote, with 'chōmōshobi', meaning super extremel…
https://newswav.com/article/japan-announces-new-name-for-day…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Beginning this summer, the weather agency will refer to the hottest days as kokushobi, a description that translates as 'severely hot day.'
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/17/japan/japan-sev…

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Claim 9: “Second is sea-surface temperatures reaching exceptionally high levels across the ocean, associated with an El Niño event and other ocean variability factors, amplified by climate change.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “Scientists attribute much of this to the climate crisis, particularly the warming of waters around the Japanese archipelago which locks the country into higher temperatures well into autumn.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from web search or Wikipedia regarding scientists attributing the heat to the climate crisis or warming waters around the Japanese archipelago. The evidence provided for this claim was empty.

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Claim 11: “Warmer oceans also fuel heavier rainfall and more intense typhoons.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 12: “For comparison, 2024 saw a total of four days of 40C heat, with the highest temperature of 41C recorded in the city of Sano.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that in 2024, there were four days of 40C heat, and the highest recorded temperature was 41C in Sano.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sano (Japanese: 佐野) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: Fusako Sano, Japanese kidnapping victim Gaku Sano, (born 1992), Japanese actor Hayato Sano (born 1998) Japanese act…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sano_(surname)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kaishu Sano (佐野海舟, Sano Kaishū; born 30 December 2000) is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 and the Japan national team.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaishu_Sano

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sano may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sano

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 13: “The JMA has already predicted a hotter-than-average summer this year, with high temperatures expected across the country.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was gathered from web search or Wikipedia regarding the JMA predicting a hotter-than-average summer for the current year. The evidence provided for this claim was empty.

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Claim 14: “Currently, the JMA categorises days with temperatures reaching 25C or higher as ‘natsubi’ meaning summer day.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “2025 was the third hottest year on record both globally and in Europe, according to Copernicus.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 16: “Alongside the survey results, the decision was made based on expert opinion that the name is socially familiar and appropriate in the Japanese language, according to the Japan Times.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 17: “Temperatures topped 40C on nine days between June and August, with the mercury hitting 41.8C in the city of Isesaki on 5 August - the highest on record nationwide.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that temperatures topped 40C on nine days between June and August, and that the national peak recorded was 41.8C in Isesaki on August 5th.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Events in the year 2025 in Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_in_Japan

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gunma Prefecture (群馬県, Gunma-ken; Japanese pronunciation: [ɡɯꜜm.ma, ɡɯm.maꜜ.keɴ]) is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Gunma Prefecture has a population of 1,937,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunma_Prefecture

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Tobu Railway Company, Ltd. (東武鉄道株式会社, Tōbu Tetsudō kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese commuter railway and keiretsu holding company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional oper…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobu_Railway

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 18: “The past three years - 2024, 2023 and 2025 - were the hottest ever recorded globally.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 19: “Other suggestions included ‘gekiatsubi’ meaning a brutally intense, explosive kind of heat; ‘shakunetsubi’, evoking a blistering heat that seems to burn the skin; and ‘futtobi’, a day so hot it feels as though the world itself is boiling.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 20: “‘Manatsubi’, meaning midsummer day, for days over 30C, and ‘mōshobi’, meaning extremely hot day, for days over 35C.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 21: “‘Kokushobi’ uses the Japanese character koku (酷) which means harsh or cruel.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 22: “‘Kokushobi’ will be used in weather forecasts to warn that extreme heat is on the way.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced the adoption of 'kokushobi' for weather forecasts to warn of extreme heat, and that it will be used this summer.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Japan formalizes 'kokushobi' for extreme heat Japan's Meteorological Agency announced a new weather term, 'kokushobi', to describe days when temperatures hit 40°C or higher.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/japan-names-40-c-days-k…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Japan's adoption of the term kokushobi reflects a growing urgency to communicate the dangers of extreme heat. As temperatures climb and heatwaves intensify, the need for clearer warnings—and stronger …
https://mabumbe.com/people/japan-introduces-kokushobi-for-40…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The JMA will add the term to weather forecast terminology and begin using it this summer. In response to the record-breaking heat of recent years, the aim is to warn people more effectively by ...
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260417/p2a/00m/0na/00…

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Claim 23: “The first is the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, from continued emissions and reduced uptake of carbon dioxide by natural sinks like forests.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.