Today is 処暑=shosho, the second one of 二十四節気 of autumn. Meaning the end of summer, it has already seen 2 big typhoons including Chanthu and Mindulle, rushed over us last week and raged yesterday respectively. Landing of typhoons symbolizes our autumn while they sometimes hit the Japanese Archipelago in rainy season. We had a kind of pointless one this year, expecting therefore these typhoons to fill our dam. The result was … ?
nature
Shiny White
StandardOur nearest shrine, where Mei-Shun drops in during her walking workout, grows them along the entrance path. Their beautiful profiles seem like welcoming visitors, while leading souls of beloved ones to their homes on obon vacation. It starts from tomorrow on Saturday, looking convenient for most of salaried workers. We had the newest holiday Mountain Day last Thursday, so if a leave is allowed including today, they would have 6-day off.
Sweetfish
Standard鮎, ayu tastes the best from June to August. Mei-Shun has a propensity for it, asked Shin to arrange a lunch date at their favorite Japanese food restaurant in Shinagawa. They know well what she covets, serving a course featuring grilled one. This genuine delicacy is edible from top of head to edge of tail, except for white-salted fins. Oh, rainy season is over in Kanto area. Thank you so much for bringing real summer to us.
Long Rain
StandardIt seems we are still in the season this year. Such weather may remind Mei-Shun’s generation of 1993, when cool summer affected seriously on rice harvest. We lacked rice so much that our government imported a lot from Thailand. It might have lead to today’s popularity of Thai cuisine in Japan. At that time, however, the fluffy texture of Thai rice was a kind of shock for most of us. On the other hand, もちもち感 =mochi-mochi-kan, a lush mouthfeel of Japanese rice have been well accepted in many countries recently.
Cicada Lady
StandardShe is so small that Mei-Shun’s thumb fits her size in half. You are a lady who gives no voice, aren’t you? Thanks to keep silent, Mikan-chan is very much interested in you. Your peaceful repose let us go on quiet in mind. As for her mom, she is a bit scary at your buzzing to rush toward her. However, she takes you nearly cute today. What is your breed, honey? If you are the romantic 蜩, higurashi who sing at dawn and sunset, she feels quite lucky to see you.
Tanabata Festival
StandardAnd 小暑=shousho, the 11th of 二十四節気, jointly meet today. The latter means that real summer would start from now on, while torrential downpours often occur at the end of rainy season. It was clear and hot this morning, followed by a sudden cool wind in the evening. Oh? You are really to represent the point of season.
Quick Preparation
StandardWe are still in rainy season. It seems to prepare for sunny summer days, while the energetic season does for the next. In 乙戸沼 Park, on the other hand, we can see one of Mei-Shun’s favorite nuts already. These green, lovely gingko fruits will turn into yellow in autumn. Hello, babies, you are still in good sleep, aren’t you? And this red leaf, he rests on the walking route alone, as mother tree is full of his green brothers.
First Cicada
StandardHis singing was heard on the first day of July around here this year. However, today’s air is amazingly cool — minus 10 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday, Mei-Shun recognized later. Such an enormous change in temperature makes her feel very sleepy. Oh, Mikan-chan, would you join mom for a nap?
Midnight Messenger
StandardIt visited Mei-Shun out of the blue, coming through the window when she tried to close a shutter. Oh, do not be confused at artificial lights. There is no sun or moon among them. Mei-Shun is friendly to butterflies, with her family symbol 浮線蝶 as one of the reasons maybe. Since today is the first day of June on lunar calendar, that beautiful creature might have brought a good fortune.
Ladies’ Tresses
Standard乙戸沼 Park accommodates one of Mei-Shun’s favorite wild flowers called 捩花=neji-bana. They share simbiotic bacteria with some kind of lawn, she has heard. Actually, they had been found in our garden years before, made Mei-Shun very happy. However, many mower users including Shin are not interested in that lovely little orchid at all, tend to eradicate them in a minute…
meishunkikunoe 