It’s no joke.

People are dying from heat stroke in Japan.

Recently, Gujo City in Gifu Prefecture recorded a temperature of 40°C.

When I first moved to Gifu Prefecture, I assumed the mountains, forests, and rivers would make summers noticeably cooler than elsewhere in Japan.

Over the years, I learned that Gifu City often becomes much hotter than the central and northern parts of the prefecture. Even so, I never expected Gujo City, near the beautiful water town of Gujo Hachiman, to reach 40°C.

My wife and I often visit Gujo Hachiman, and I still associate the area with clear rivers, forests, and fresh mountain air.

Even Takayama recently reached 37°C.

As I sit in my home office with the air conditioner humming throughout the day, I can’t help feeling the urge to jump into the Kiso or Nagara River.

On days like these, the water looks incredibly inviting.

But only recently I heard on the news that a 65-year-old fisherman drowned in the Kiso River near the onsen town of Gero.

At first I thought that someone with years of experience would know the dangers of the river.

Then I learned what had happened.

He wasn’t swept away while fishing.

He entered the river to retrieve fishing gear that had floated downstream.

I hadn’t expected that.