Monday, June 26, 2017

To value the sense of season

It's the rainy season in Japan now. 
Usually, we have lots of rain and the air is awfully hot and humid.
However, there has been less rain than usual so far.
Hydrangeas need much more rain, it seems.
Well...I haven't seen snails nor frogs yet...



We used to live in harmonious rhythm with the four seasons,
but I have to admit that the balance has been disrupted due to global warming.

At such a time as this, I would like to intentionally value the sense of season.
During the summer solitude, many people rearrange the rooms, 
change clothes in their wardrobes, adjust bedding or tableware,
and eat seasonal vegetables, to keep cool. 

As for seasonal vegetables, 
lots of shiso leaves (one of the Japanese herbs) 
are growing in my tiny garden.


The simplest dish for shiso leaves is to use them
as a seasoning or garnish for cold somen noodles and soba.  
(There are no photos for cold somen noodles and soba for now, 
but I'll update this when I take them later). 
The fragrance of shiso leaves is so refreshing.


Many summer events are coming one after another, 
such as Matsuri, which is an event held in gratitude towards nature.
I'm hoping to introduce some of these interesting events in the near future.

3 comments:

  1. Oh please do so!! I love to hear about you, everything from your garden, traditions to your always-wise thoughts on life. So happy to read from you again!!
    It's been very hot here too, and the last week was almost too hard to put up with; looks like global warming is manifesting everywhere, and I sometimes feel like a helpless stupid little human who just witnesses things without doing much/anything!

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    1. Oh well, I'd be happy to;)
      I sometimes feel the same as you. And the incredibly hot summer is waiting for us after the rainy season. There is no choice but to gain stamina and survive the summer. We have the custom to eat glaze-grilled eel to survive. I'll show you what it's like later:) Take care:)

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  2. Love hearing about other cultures. We used to live in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States -- lots of rain -- and hydrangeas EVERYWHERE! I love them and miss them. People occasionally try to grow them in the dry region we now live in, but they don't typically do well. But, we do get four very distinct seasons -- from unbearably hot to feet of snow -- and that is kind of fun!

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