The number of heatstroke patients taken to the hospital surged across Japan as the nation experienced the hottest summer on record, with the increase most notable in typically cooler regions.
According to preliminary numbers from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, there were a total of 90,007 people across Japan who were taken to the hospital between May 1 and Aug. 31, up from 86,075 in the same period last year.
While the numbers did not vary much in many of the prefectures, the rise was most notable in regions such as Hokkaido and Tohoku, typically considered to be cooler in the summer than the rest of Japan.
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