As southeast Australia shivers through a cold start to August, southern Japan is sweltering through a mid-summer heatwave, possibly even “cruelly” hot. 

Earlier this year, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) introduced a new term kokushobi or “cruelly hot day” to describe days when the temperature exceeds 40°C. The agency already used manatsubi (mid-summer day) for days above 30°C and moshobi (extremely hot day) for days above 35°C. For anime enthusiasts, the koku in kokushobi, is the same character used in “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”, the theme song to Neon Genesis Evangelion. 

Australians may scoff at the idea of a 40 degree day receiving a special name but in Japan, the heat hits differently. Japan’s summers are notoriously humid with the feels like temperature often soaring above 50°C. 

Kumamoto continues to feel aftershocks from last week’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake and is now expecting a string of moshobi ahead of a typhoon later this week. While the typhoon is not currently expected to make landfall over Kyushu (Japan’s southern main island where Kumamoto is located), it will drag warmer air over southern Japan as it approaches, leading to the above average temperatures this week. So while the heat might not be technically “cruel” this week, for the people of Kyushu, it will definitely feel that way.

Average temperature forecast for the week of Aug 1-7 (source JMA). Purple areas denote 70% chance or higher of above average temperatures.

Super Typhoon Dolphin is currently a category 4 system after having reached category 5 on Thursday and Friday. It is located over the northwestern Pacific and is weakening as it moves to the west-northwest towards Okinawa. 

Forecast track for Super Typhoon Dolphin. The system is expected to weaken as it moves to the south of mainland Japan (source Weatherzone).