Essential Japanese Seasonal Decorations - Summer
Seasonality: Mid Summer/ June
Japanese Name: Ame no Hi/ Tsuyu/ Baiyu/ Teru Teru Bozu/ Ajisai/ Kasa/ Wagasa/ Kaeru/ Niji
English Name: Rainy Day/ Rainy Season/ Plum Rain/ Shine Shine Monk. Hydrangea/ Umbrella/ Japanese Umbrella/ Frog/ Rainbow
In early summer, most parts of Japan get visited by a rainy season, the so called tsuyu (梅雨, or baiyu), literally meaning "plum rain", because it coincides with the season of plums ripening. In most of Japan, the rainy season lasts from the beginning of June to mid July, while it affects the islands of Okinawa about one month earlier. Only Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido gets barely affected by the rainy season. During the rainy season it does not rain every day. In fact, Tokyo registers only an average of 12 rainy days in June, while 120 hours of sunshine are recorded. As for the amount of rainfall, it varies from days with intensive downpours to other days with occasional sprinkles.
A teru teru bōzu (てるてる坊主, lit. "shine shine monk") is a small traditional handmade doll made of white paper or cloth that Japanese farmers began hanging outside of their window by a string. Today, children make teru teru bōzu out of tissue paper or cotton and string and hang them from a window when they wish for sunny weather, often before a school picnic day. This talisman is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather and to stop or prevent a rainy day. Teru teru bōzu became popular during the Edo period among urban dwellers, whose children would make them the day before the good weather was desired and chant, "Fine-weather priest, please let the weather be good tomorrow." Traditionally, if the weather does turn out well, a libation of holy sake is poured over them, and they are washed away in the river. Hanging it upside-down, meanwhile, acts as a prayer for rain.
Ajisai, 紫陽花 a.k.a. Hydrangea, is the sign of the rainy season in Japan. Another nickname for hydrangea, called nanahenge, which means seven transformations. The flower is adored and honored by most of the Japanese like they do for ume, sakura and irises. In fact, the flower was first discovered in Japan. In general, they start blooming from early June to mid July. History says hydrangeas have appeared in poems of the Nara period (710-794). During the Edo period (1618-1868), seeing the changeability of the flower, this flower was ignored by the samurai as they used to believe that it is immortal. Hydrangeas change their color with environment in the rain and this fact makes us to think of this as inconsistent, immortal, sadness of impermanence, change of mind, hopeless love and so on. Though, cluster of hydrangea blossoms symbolize enduring love, everlasting friendships, and family bonds.
Kasa, 傘かさ, is the Japanese general word for umbrella, while the word for the traditional paper umbrellas is wagasa 和傘わがさ. Oil-paper umbrellas were a variety invented in China which spread to many neighboring countries. No one knows exactly when umbrellas were invented, but it's thought they came to Japan via Korea during the Asuka period (538-710). At first, umbrellas were such a luxury item that they also had spiritual significance. But over the centuries some changes were made, and by the Edo period umbrellas were much more common. Still, a lot of craft went into making umbrellas. During the Edo period (1603-1868), umbrellas became a common feature of visual and performing arts. From the Meiji period onward, and particularly after World War II, traditional umbrellas were eclipsed by Western style ones.
Kaeru, かえる(蛙) or frogs, in Japan are auspicious creatures, bringing rain, fertility and good fortune due to the abundant number of eggs produced by a frogs when mating (~1500). The frog is regarded as the god of rainfall associated with the tsuyu rainy season and with good harvests in Japan (rainfall being particularly important for abundant harvests of rice). Frogs are ascribed magical powers, and are popular lucky amulets, because the word for frog in Japanese “kaeru” sounds like “kaeru” meaning “return”, therefore implying many happy returns (of money and fortune), a safe return journey, etc.
Niji, 虹 or rainbows, were the bridges that human ancestors took to descend to the planet. This legend is shared to some extent with Chinese mythology, which says the red represents the feet, and violet symbolizes the head of a human being. Therefore, a single rainbow signifies a human descending from heaven to earth. This could be for communication, or rebirth.
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