Weekly Topics/Archive
August 2018
|
In spite of the final stage of August, hot days are still going on.
According to 24 solar terms, today is Chushu (Shosho(処暑) in Japanese).
On the calendar, it's said that the season begins a transition to autumn on
Risshu and then around Shosho, the summer heat wear off and it gradually
get cool in the morning and afternoon.
[Note] go on 〜; 〜し続ける、続けて〜する、 24 solar terms ; 24節気
Chushu (Shosho) ; 処暑、 begin a transition to 〜 ; 〜への移行を始める、Risshu ; 立秋
wear off ; 徐々に消えていく、徐々に収まる
As I didn't understand what this kanji characters “処暑” means, I looked
up the meaning in the dictionary.
I knew the kanji character “処” also has such meanings as stop(止む、止まる)、fall(収まる)
and stay(とどまる).
That had the literal meaning.
[Note] kanji character ; 漢字、look up 〜 in the dictionary ; 辞書で〜を調べる
literal meaning ; 文字通りの意味
However, even though it's getting close to autumn, the lingering summer
heat is still sever.
We feel there is more or less gap between shosho and the current calendar
or an actual sense of the season.
The 24 solar terms originated in China, so it is avoidable because of the
difference in climate between Japan and China at a relatively higher latitude
than Japan.
[Note] get close to 〜 ; 〜に近づく、lingering summer heat ; 残暑 (lingering ; 長引く)
originate in 〜 ; 〜に由来する、〜で生まれる、 a sense of the season ; 季節感
The 24 solar terms, which one year is divided equally with seasons into 24
divisions, give an indication of the change of the seasons.
So, they say it is used for agricultural work even now.
It has been said since a long time ago that Nowaki (the typhoon) comes
around Shosho.
Since farmers who have a harvest season soon at this time of year worry
about crop damage due to typhoon, I'm beginning to understand it.
We are going to have many typhoons this year.
The season's 20th typhoon passed longitudinally through Kinki Region from
late at night until the early hours of this morning.
The Omi region was also in the storm zone.
Though I have worried about damages to the paddies near my home in
which the rice harvest season is approaching, I'm glad because they weren't
influenced by the typhoon, as you can see.
[Note] give an indication of 〜 ; 〜 の目安になる、Nowaki (the typhoon) ; 野分 (台風)
harvest season ; 収穫期、at this time of year ; 一年のこの時期
worry about 〜 ; 〜を心配する、 crop damage ; 農作物の被害
I'm beginning to understand ; .何となく分かる気がする
pass longitudinally through 〜 ; 〜を縦断する、late at night ; 深夜に
Pls click the picture to see a full-size version
|
|
|
The view of rice field and clear weather after the season's 20th typhoon
has passed
(2018.08.24_08:20) |
The representative foods in autumn which come into season around Shosho
start to arrive in stores.
For example, sauries, hairtails, pumpkins, eggplants, satoimo(taros), figs,
pears, grapes, ---.
My favorite autumn foods are saury dishes.
There is nothing better than having a drink with grilled saury or raw one.
Especially, the guts with a slightly bitter taste of grilled saury contain
rich
vitamins that build up stamina.
This is the most suitable food for refreshing a week stomach and body
because of the summer heat.
[Note] come into season ; 旬を迎える、旬になる、 arrive in stores ; 店頭に並ぶ
saury ; サンマ、hairtail ; 太刀魚、eggplant ; ナスビ、satoimo(taros) ; 里芋、fig ; いちじく
pear ; 梨、There is nothing better than 〜 ; 〜より良いものは何もない、〜は最高です
guts ; はらわた、腸、slightly bitter ; ほろ苦い、build up stamina ; 体力をつける、体力を高める
There is a Jizo-bon event as one of seasonal tradition held at this time
in the Kansai area.
Ojizo-san (Jizo statue) is standing inconspicuously somewhere on roadside
of the street.
This is a child-focused festival held in each town to thank Jizo as the
protector of children and pray for the safe growth of them.
In my childhood, I used to look forward to getting the offerings that were
withdrawn in the lottery of Jizo-bon festival.
[Note] Jizo-bon event ; 地蔵盆という行事、seasonal tradition ; 風物詩
Ojizo-san (Jizo statue) ; お地蔵さん、inconspicuously ; 目立たないで
child-focused festival ; 子供のためのお祭り、
offerings that were withdrawn ; お供え物のおさがり
There is not any Ojizo-san on roadside in my town which is located in
a
newly developed residential area in Kusatsu.
But instead of Jizo-bon festival, some recreation like the opening of
refreshment stalls and a lottery, etc are scheduled as summer festival
event
on Saturday following August 24 which is the festival day of Ozizo-san.
Since the summer holiday draw to an end, that is the last joyful event for
children.
That hasn't changed since a long time ago.
So, everyone!.
You know, even though we still have some more lingering summer heat, please
take good care of yourself.
[Note] refreshment stall ; 模擬店、lottery ; 抽選会
festival day of Ozizo-san ; お地蔵さんの縁日、some more ; もう少し
lingering summer hea ; 残暑 (lingering ; なかなか消えない、いつまでも残る)
draw to an end ; 終わりに近づく、since a long time ago ; 古くから、昔から
Japanese Diary / No.876−2018.08.23 / 「今日は処暑」
 TOPページへ戻る
|
|
