Storyline: Japan experienced its hottest July for the third year in a row, with many regions across the country seeing precipitation less than 10 percent of normal levels, severely impacting rice production, according to the country's weather agency. The nationwide average temperature was the highest for July, or 2.89 degrees Celsius higher than usual, since comparable records began in 1898, toppling the previous record set in 2024 by 2.161 degrees Celsius, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said on Friday. Weather officials said this year's deviation from normal is much larger than past figures, adding that the country faced "abnormally high" temperatures. On July 30, a temperature of 41.2 degrees was recorded in Tamba City in the western prefecture of Hyogo, the highest ever observed in the country. On July 24, the mercury rose to nearly 40 degrees in some parts of the northern prefecture of Hokkaido. Furthermore, there were 4,565 locations across Japan experienced temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, the highest number since comparable data began in 2010. The rainfall in many parts of Japan in July was less than half the annual average. Rainfall in July on the Sea of Japan side of the northeastern Tohoku region and in the central Hokuriku region was the lowest since those statistics started binging recorded in 1946. These two regions recorded an amount of only 13 percent and 8 percent of their average precipitation, respectively. In Tohoku region's Yamagata Prefecture, 26 out of 28 observation points recorded their lowest rainfall levels in history, while the rainfall in Wajima City of Hokuriku region's Ishikawa Prefecture was only 1 percent of the annual average. According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Tourism on Friday, as of Thursday, 33 of reservoirs under the management of the ministry and other water resource agencies had water levels below the annual average, with one each in the prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi completely dry. Many of the regions experiencing high temperatures and low rainfall are key rice-producing areas in Japan, which has adversely affected rice growth. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on Wednesday established a special division for dealing with water shortage and high temperature, urging water conservation and discussing response strategies. The JMA forecasts that high temperatures will continue in August, with most regions, except for southern areas like Okinawa, remaining above annual average. Shotlist: Tokyo, Japan - July 23, 2025: 1. Various of pedestrians walking under burning sun with umbrellas 2. Various of traffic Tokyo, Japan - July 21, 2025: 3. Various of pedestrians walking under burning sun with umbrellas 4. Various of pedestrians walking in shaded area Tokyo, Japan - Recent: 5. Signs showing rice brands, prices 6. Rice in bag FILE: Chiba Prefecture, Japan - Date Unknown: 7. Various of farm field Japan - Recent: 8. Various of bagged rice in store, clerk at work. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]