Essi Virtanen

FKF Jap realia 1

25.10.2016
essay 1

B. Seasons in Japan: Define different seasons in Japan and discuss how the seasons relate to various aspects of Japanese life.

For each day of the year there is a seasonal thing

Over and over again, something begins and something ends. In Japan, the chancing of four seasons and beautiful colors of nature are full of celebrated symbolism that mean a lot in Japanese culture and play a huge role through different forms in Japanese everyday life. As Japan is a long collection of islands located mainly in temperate zone stretching out over thousands of kilometers, the climate varies considerably from the northern island of Hokkaido to the southern subtropical island of Okinawa.

During the winter the cold dry wind blows from Siberia towards the Sea of Japan and by meeting the warm air from the Pacific Ocean brings heavy snowing to the west coast of Japan. Spring is a season of cherry blossoms and new start. It also marks the beginning of academic and business years. Following that, there is the so called tsuyu (or baiyu) – raining season that lasts from the beginning of June to mid July varying in different parts of Japan (not including Hokkaido). Tsuyu -season is often said to be a fifth season in Japan in addition to summer, winter, spring and autumn.

In summer on the other hand, humid and warm wind from the Pacific Ocean makes the summer of Japan to be as hot as it is. It is a season of waterfall viewing and fireworks. When the season is starting to turn into autumn, starts the typhoon season that’s caused by a tropical low pressure area near equator. It brings heavy raining and strong winds that can be dangerous. Typhoons later in the season tend to be stronger than typhoons earlier in the season. Autumn is a season of harvesting, moon and fall colors.

But not only the changing of temperatures mean the changing of the seasons in Japan. Each seasonal thing is considered to represent the current season and the overall atmosphere of it and has its own ideal items, poems, events, kimono patterns and foods. In addition to the main four seasons there are shorter season kind of time periods. with. For example, mikans (the most popular type of Japanese oranges) are in season in early winter and eating eel is a tradition in late July on a day called 土用の丑の日 (doyō no ushi no hi). Besides being annual reminders of the change in season, “shun” foods tend to taste better and are cheaper.

Japanese literature and arts particularly are strongly inspired by the nature and seasons. Traditionally beginning of a letter includes reference to the currently ongoing season. Haiku is a Japanese poem that always has one season related word -kigo in it. Tea ceremony is a long and profound tradition in Japan. Reflecting each season in it is an essential part in it.

The changing of nature in Japan is a beautiful harmony of different seasons. There are four main seasons but also various shorter season like time periods. Each day of a year is part of a season, shorter or longer time periods or both. Seasons affect Japanese everyday life by various forms such as seasonal events and food. Therefore, it’s no longer unclear that Japanese are very proud of their seasons.

Resources:

https://www.japan-zone.com/culture/season.shtml 23.10.2016 15:41

http://www.rantapallo.fi/japani/ 23.10.2016 15.51

http://www.finland.or.jp/public/default.aspx?nodeid=44383&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI 23.10.2016 16.00

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2347.html 23.10.2016 17:47

http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/typhoon-season-in-japan 23.10.2016 20:48

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2117.html 23.10.2016 21:09

Book: The Japanese Mind, Roger J. Davies & Osamu Ikeno, 2002

https://www.glico.com/global/feature/season/ 23.10.2016 21:46

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2277.html 23.10.2016 21:47

https://www.jnto.org.au/plan-your-trip/seasonal-attractions/ 23.10.2016 21:49

http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-haiku-poems.html 23.10.2016 21:54