By Christopher
The rainy season has arrived in Japan (so I hear). So how many seasons are there in Japan? Most people in countries all over the world think about weather as four seasons. Most Japanese people would say there are four seasons. Most Americans too.
Years ago I started studying traditional Chinese medicine and I read about the five seasons. In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) there is the spring which relates to the liver organ and the element of wood. There is summer which relates to the heart and the element of fire. Then there is late summer which relates to the stomach and the earth. Then there is fall which relates to the lungs and the element of metal. Finally there is winter which relates to the kidneys and to the element of water.
After I moved to Japan, it was easier to understand how the Chinese conceived of five seasons. In Japan it feels like there are two summers: the wet and the dry.
But there are other ways of thinking about seasons. Climatologists sometimes use a six season model for study. Some tribes of Australian aboriginals believe in eight seasons. In India, and in the Hindu calender, there are six seasons.
So how many seasons are there? All I know is there is one season: the rainy season. And today it’s raining. I don’t like it much. I hope the rainy season is short this year. Until it finishes, I’ll be wearing my haramaki.
