Summer still going strong 👹🍣🎎 Wonderful Japan

Summer is lingering a little longer here this year and, at least in the first half of September, it does not seem to be making way for the next season. The forecast seems to be right in this regard, as a few months ago we were predicted warm temperatures right into October. Well, we're not quite there yet, but at least September is turning out exactly as the last two months have been, and the people in the region where I am currently staying won't be able to stop sweating.

But despite the lingering summer temperatures, you can tell that something is changing. It's getting dark noticeably earlier, and the sky is showing completely different cloud formations than it did a few weeks ago. I can't describe it properly, but the clouds in September seem to be thicker and hang lower, and for me they are a clear sign that the seasons are changing.

Although autumn itself is still a while away, there are a few more signs that it is somehow around the corner. For one thing, it is now time for the rice harvest, and in many fields, hard-working people are now working diligently on their harvesters to bring in the most important harvest of the year. Nothing happens in Japan without rice, and no one likes to think back to the empty shelves in supermarkets, which have become a familiar sight in recent years. So we're keeping our fingers crossed that, despite the long hot summer, at least the rice harvest will be alright.

For another sign of the approaching fall, we only have to go to the beach. Although it is still invitingly sunny, you will usually be alone here and wonder where all the other people have gone. Well, during the week, the answer is of course “to work,” but even on weekends, it's no different. But in September, it's simply no longer usual for the average Japanese person to go to the beach, and no one thinks about swimming these days. Another reason for this might be the small jellyfish in the water, which can quickly spoil the fun. From mid August in the Sea of Japan, you have to be careful not to get touched by their small tentacles to avoid unpleasant and painful experiences.

I haven't been spared these experiences either, but I don't want to let them spoil my fun completely. Even during jellyfish season, I venture into the water, albeit much more cautiously and slowly. When it's 30 degrees I just need to cool off, and who wants to sit under the air conditioning all day!

Let's see how long the spook in the sea will last this time. When the temperatures drop, the water should calm down again, and those who aren't completely lost should be able to enjoy the waves until October. The disbelief and amazement of your fellow humans comes free of charge.

All right, let's see what happens. At least it's still summer around us, even if it's likely to rain a little over the next few days. But I'm sure we'll be rewarded with plenty of sunshine again, and to be honest, I'm glad that it's not as autumnal here as it is in other regions of the planet. In the end, the cold season comes much too early and then you wish you were back in summer. And that's why I enjoy the days just as they come!