梅雨　(Tsuyu) -rainy season

31st May – 皐月

梅雨 (Tsuyu), the rainy season falls around June till mid July every year in Japan. During this season, many days have rain or cloudy days, so it’s very humid and damp. The Kanji 梅 means plum, this is because 梅雨 season is the time when plums ripen.

Today, the Shikoku area started 梅雨入り (Tsuyu Iri = when Tsuyu starts), and it is 5days earlier than usual year.

Speaking of the rain, Japanese often put one ornament called てるてる坊主 (Teru Teru Bouzu) to wish for the sunny day tomorrow. The way to make てるてる坊主 is very easy;

1. Make a ball by crumpling tissue paper.

2. Wrap that ball by another tissue paper, then make it look like a head and body wearing rain coat.

3. Put a rubber band around the bottom of ball.

4. Put another rubber band at the head of ball and stick it with tape.

5. Hang it close from the window and wish for tomorrow to be sunny!

By doing this, there is no evidence to become sunny but many still keep doing that.

On the other hand, if you would like to wish for rain, you hang it upside down.

Even during 梅雨 season, people can still enjoy their life as in Japan there are heaps indoor entertainment!

For speciality of visiting Japan in that season is, you can see the beautiful flower called 紫陽花 (Ajisai, Hydrengea Macrophylla) – The small flowers gather and makes it huge, it has variety of colors. In Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture, there has great Ajisai blooming places so if you visit Japan in 梅雨 time, I definitely recommend you to see them there!:)