Fijian rugby player Saimoni Vunilagi dies after training in Japan due to suspected heatstroke
Saimoni Vunilagi, a 26-year-old Fijian rugby player for Japan's second-division team Kyushu KV, died on Friday morning after being hospitalized with symptoms consistent with severe heatstroke. Vunilagi was taken to a Fukuoka hospital on Monday after a team practice, where temperatures reached 35C. The club expressed devastation, noting Vunilagi's generous spirit and powerful play had created high hopes for the upcoming season. Vunilagi, a back row forward, attended university in Japan and began his professional career in 2023. Japan experienced its hottest summer on record last year, with parts of the country reaching 40C recently. Between July 20 and 26, nearly 18,600 people were hospitalized for heatstroke, with 45 fatalities. Japan aims to halve its annual heat-related deaths by 2030. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events to human-induced climate change. The country's highest recorded temperature was 41.8C on August 5, 2025, in Isesaki. Authorities have adjusted the timing of various events due to the heat, including the World Cosplay Summit.
