Autumn is on it's way!

Autumn is apparently on it's way. It is just a little late in Yachiyo. If ya ask Japanese people what their favorite season is... they usually say autumn. The temperatures are still warm enough not to wear a jacket during day light hours, the sun shines throughout the afternoon and the rain has finally stopped. There are trips planned to see the foliage, rice fields to harvest, cool and relaxing golden afternoons spent working in the garden. All the delicious vegetables that you have slaved over are finally being dug up and put into seasonal dishes. Everything has nuts, squash and sweet potatoes. The fans and air conditioners are all put away, while the extra blankets and nabe bowls (a type of Japanese soup) are brought out of storage in preparation for those cold winter nights.

Since the air is no longer humid, muggy, polluted and heavy... being outside is a pleasure. You can see mountains again. Mountains that you completely forget about on those blistery humid days of summer and those rainy days of September. And even though the trees haven't started to change in Yachiyo yet... I am looking forward the days of falling leaves, sunsets and small fires in the rice fields welcoming me home every day after a long day of teaching. I love fall in Japan.