Image courtesy of Nippon.com
Climate change has been altering our daily activities.
Japan is a long, narrow island situated in the Northern Hemisphere. It spans approximately 20° south to 45° north in latitude. This setting displayed (I am using the past tense…) a wide range of climates, from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south.
When I grew up in Tokyo, Japan had a distinctive five-season cycle.
Tender spring with varieties of flowers, followed by a cool and a bit annoying rainy season (tsuyu, 梅雨), hot and humid summer, gorgeous autumn with colored leaves, and mild winter.
This cycle has been disrupted by climate change. In July, the northern cities in Hokkaido registered a temperature of 39 °C (102.2°F), setting a local record. This is 13.5° C above average. The weather forecasts warn that during the first two weeks in October, temperatures are expected to be 5°C to 8°C above normal in parts of Japan, impacting cultural and traditional activities.
Traditionally, mid-October marks a drop in humidity and temperature, making it the best and most beautiful time to travel across Japan, provided we avoid powerful typhoons, one to four of which are expected to hit Japan this year.
We call October's blue sky Akibare 秋晴れ, which means a clear autumn sky—a solid, deep blue without clouds.
Taking advantage of excellent, clear weather, elementary and junior high schools organize Undokai 運動会, also known as Sports Day. Today, hotter days linger into October, and several typhoon threats are causing many schools to move their Undokai from autumn to the spring.
However, spring brings its own challenges. Kosa (黄砂)—vast clouds of dry, yellow-hued dust and sand originating from the deserts of China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan—travel across the Sea of Japan pushed by strong winds, blanketing parts of Japan between March and May.
Some schools stick to holding the Undokai in October, opting for a later start (6 pm) or indoor alternatives to mitigate the risks of extreme heat and alleviate the suffering of Netchu-sho, a heat-related illness, among students.
The following video depicts Undo-kai, Sports Day, at Konan Elementary School in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, in 2023. The children from 1st grade to 6th grade are divided into Group White and Group Red. Groups White and Red compete against each other to gain higher points and secure victory.
There are many fun activities, including relay races, big ball rolling, exercise dancing, tamaire (ball toss), obstacle races, kibasen (mock cavalry races), and tsunahiki (tug-of-war).
After the Undo-kai, everyone is hungry!
October is Shokuyoku no Aki. The direct translation of Shokuyoku no Aki is "Autumn, the increased appetite." Read more about this here!
