According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Kanto-Koshin’etsu region is set to experience extreme heat—the kind that occurs only once every decade. In particular, temperatures are expected to remain at “summer-like” levels (25°C or higher) from the 19th onward. In Tokyo, the daily high is forecast to reach 27°C on the 19th and 29°C on the 20th. This is reportedly due to sea surface temperatures around Japan being higher than average, combined with an influx of exceptionally warm air. While extreme weather has become the new normal—and we have grown accustomed to unseasonal conditions—I sincerely hope we are spared any unexpected disasters. The potential impact on agricultural crops is also a concern. Personally, I find hot weather far more comfortable than the cold, but still… (Kei)