Tokyo experienced its highest number of daily heat-related hospitalisations since 2010 on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as a severe heatwave swept across Japan. The Tokyo Fire Department reported that 453 people were taken to hospitals that day, marking the highest daily count since records began in 2010. Emergency service deployments also reached a 63-year high.

One person died in Tokyo prefecture, which has a population of around 14 million, while four others were in critical condition and 18 were in serious condition. In the central region of Aichi, including Nagoya, 116 people were hospitalised for heat-related conditions on the same day.

Temperatures surpassed 40°C at four locations on July 22, including one in the Mie region, two in Gifu, and one in Shizuoka, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Heatstroke alerts were active across nearly the entire country.

Emergency officials reported that at least 14 people had died from heat-related causes in the past week, with nearly 11,000 seeking emergency medical care nationwide, as stated by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

A fire brigade spokesman urged the public to stay hydrated and use air conditioners to mitigate the effects of the heatwave. He noted, "It seems like the number (of patients) rose as the temperature rose. It seems like yesterday (Wednesday) and the day before yesterday, we really saw notable increases."

Temperatures have been rising since mid-July, and severe heat is expected to continue nationwide. Officials described the extreme heat as a "disaster," with many people being rushed to hospitals or dying due to heatstroke.

Sources