kagerou

Kagerou is a Japanese onomatopoeic word that describes the heat haze or shimmering effect seen on hot days, particularly over roads or deserts. It evokes the visual distortion caused by rising thermal currents of air. The word itself is often used in literature and poetry to convey a sense of oppressive heat, the vastness of summer, or a dreamlike, indistinct atmosphere.

In popular culture, "Kagerou" has been used as a title for various works. Notably, it is the name of a manga series by J.K. Kimi published in Monthly Gangan Wing, which later inspired an anime adaptation. This series features a group of characters who possess supernatural abilities linked to the heat and the phenomenon of heat haze. The term can also refer to a specific type of weather phenomenon, though its more common usage is as a descriptive term for the visual effect. The feeling associated with kagerou often includes a sense of stillness, the intense glare of the sun, and the blurring of the distant landscape, creating a unique sensory experience.