On July 25, 2025, in Tokyo, a woman was seen walking toward her friends through a dome-shaped structure decorated with pinwheels. The installation, set up at a shopping mall, included a misting system to help people cool down during the summer heat. (AP Photo)
Japan and South Korea endured their hottest summers on record this year. Weather agencies from both countries confirmed the record-breaking heat on Monday.
In Japan, the Meteorological Agency reported the average temperature between June and August rose 2.36 C above the seasonal norm. That made it the hottest summer since records began in 1898. It also marked the third straight year of record-setting heat.
South Korea’s Meteorological Administration reported its average summer temperature reached 25.7 C. This topped last year’s 25.6 C, setting a new high since records started in 1973.
Heat Impacts in Japan
Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said 84,521 people were hospitalized for heat-related illness from May to late August. That figure rose slightly from last year.
Tokyo residents described the summer as unbearable. Masao Nakano, 80, said he relied on indoor exercise to keep active. “This is crazy. It’s all man-made, right? All the air-cons and power generation,” he said.
Younger residents shared concerns about lifestyle changes. Businesswoman Miyu Fujita, 22, said she avoided outdoor socializing. She also worried about children being forced indoors. “When I was a child, summer was the time to go outside and play. Can kids play outside now? I think it’s impossible.”
The effects of rising temperatures are visible in nature. Cherry blossoms are blooming earlier, or not fully flowering at all. Mount Fuji’s iconic snowcap appeared in early November last year, the latest on record.
South Korea Faces Water Shortages
South Korea’s record heat came alongside a severe drought. The coastal city of Gangneung, home to 200,000 residents, declared a state of national disaster. Its main reservoir dropped below 15 percent capacity.
Authorities introduced water restrictions, cutting 75 percent of household meters.
Kim Hae-dong, a professor of meteorological studies at Keimyung University, linked the prolonged hot streak to “the weakening of Arctic cold air due to global warming.” He warned similar extreme conditions could repeat next year.
Global Context
Scientists say human-driven climate change is driving more frequent and extreme heatwaves. While the warming trend is global, not all regions experience it equally.
Data shows Europe has warmed the fastest since 1990, followed closely by Asia.
The United Nations recently warned that rising heat harms workers’ health and productivity. According to estimates, output drops two to three percent for every degree above 20 C.
