Hello,

In Japan, rainy season called "Tsuyu 梅雨" starts at the beginning of May and lasts until mid July. It starts from southern most island Okinawa, then gradually moves north over the main island. "Tsuyu" written as 梅(plum) 雨(rain), is the name of the rain in this time of the year, since it rains during the season that plums ripen.

There are many ways to call rain depends on the seasonal changes or how it rains. For example, "春(spring) 雨(rain) harusame" is a rain in late spring which is fine and drizzle. "夕(dusk)立(stand or rising) yudachi" is a heavy rain shower in summer for a very short time, in the afternoon or evening when the cumulonimbus cloud rises. "霧(fog)雨(rain) kirisame" is name of the rain in autumn, which is very fine and misty. "氷(ice)雨(rain) hisame" is a very cold and frosty rain in winter that almost turns into snow.

It is said that there are a couple of hundred names of rain in Japan! These are not just the name of rain, but tells us many things about the moment: season, temperature, volume, types, timing, length, weather etc. ☂

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FBRI Editorial Team