Japan has a much more prominent set of seasons than anywhere I know of.
Nurgh! Heat wave! No, not the book by Richard Castle, I’m talking about the insane heat and humidity here in the Osaka area of Japan. The cold days and nights from when I first arrived here quickly vanished, now it’s just hot. I’m talking that silly ‘foreign hot’ that this English boy just does not cope well with. Upon venturing out, a wall of heat hits me like that scene from an Absolutely Fabulous episode where Edina and Patsy instantly faint upon stepping off the plane. It also reminds me of parts of American I’ve visited where I’ve suffered just as badly. Jumping shadow to shadow just to stay in some slightly cooler shade also reminds me of my visit to the Greek island of Kos. Simply walking down to the local supermarket has me covered in sweat and yearning for the glorious air-con within. What’s worse though is that this is supposedly tame compared to what’s to come in a few weeks.
Japanese culture has developed to combat said heat waves. I’ve actually noticed it a lot in some anime shows but it’s never really hit home til I’ve seen it first-hand.
I see guys wearing bandanas made from small towels, or towels just slung around their necks to wipe the sweat off their brow while walking. I’ve even started carrying one in my backpack, but I feel more like I’m hitchhiking across the galaxy rather than being Japanese.
I watch cyclists bezz by wearing huge hats and full face visors to block out the sun, most simply resorting to umbrellas (or parasols) to keep the rays off them (on and off bicycles).
I’ve noticed a lot of women wearing those ‘arm-sock’ things to protect their arms from the sun too, I hear most don’t like getting tans.
Following the example of Japanese business men I have purchased a ‘Super-Dry’ t-shirt to wear under my smart shirt (on the rare occasion I wear that rather than my t-shirts). I dunno if it absorbs sweat or what (it claims to magically stop sweat) but it certainly stops gross sweat patches forming around your armpits and down your back. Sadly it does mean an extra layer though, so I feel it’s making me warmer than I have to be.
Electric room fans, all types of hand fans, and A/C units are obviously very popular right now.
I’m also personally buying far more ice cream and ice lollies than I normally would during an English Summer. I’m so glad that Louise’s flat has two fridge/freezers, even bread has to be stored in them because it’s goes mouldy very quickly these days.
The heat is certainly another reason I’ve been slow with updates and such on here, it just makes me so lethargic, even with cool air blowing at me, sorry. It also causes me to struggle when trying to sleep and then when I’m trying to wake up. Bottled (refrigerated) water is a must… mmm, ice cubes in Cola…
What really helps is how much cooler the flat and outside feels when it’s raining and ooooh does it rain here. We’re currently in the ‘rainy season’ so when Japan isn’t being fried by the sun it pelts it down with rain. Cats and dogs for pretty much most of the day, sometimes days at a time. Talking of dogs, I saw a small dog dash out of nowhere to hide under a car from the heavy rain, it made a little whimper from under there too, awwww.
The Japanese look at me funny most times, but even more-so when they see me without an umbrella in the rain. I don’t even bother with my waterproof coat anymore because it’s far too hot and humid to wear even if it is raining.
I like thunder storms, I also like the sound of rain against the window when you’re curled up indoors.