Fall Colors

If you ever talk to someone who has lived in Japan, play a game with them. Have them finish this sentence, "In Japan, we ... " and I bet most people will answer "... have four seasons." I don't know what it is, but many Japanese people seem to think that Japan is the only place in the world with 4 seasons- and they like to tell you about it.

Granted when they ask me if my hometown has four seasons, I can't easily answer yes for LA, but Michigan definitely has four seasons! And most places not near the equator have 4 seasons!

But still, it's hard to really call autumn a season here. In the past 2 weeks it's gone from t-shirt and shorts weather to 2 long sleeve shirts, a sweatshirt (or two) and a down vest weather. I've refrained from breaking out my tights for under my pants, but I think I might be in denial that it's already winter. What happened to autumn?!

And then there is the infamous rainy season, called "tsuyu." This takes up all of June and the majority of July. It was been pretty tame the past couple years, but my first year there was no sun for at least 25 days straight. It was miserable. Why don't they count that as a season? It lasts longer than "autumn."

Anyway, this is the season for fall colors viewing, autumn's answer to spring's cherry blossom viewing. The best spots are broadcasted and tracked, but the colors are fleeting, so you have to pick the right weekend to go out. I think living in LA for 12 years made me less interested in fall colors, but for some reason this year, I have this urge to go out and find some to look at. Maybe I've been in Japan too long!

On that note, I do start emails with a line or two about the weather or the season, a very Japanese custom. "Mr. ++, It's gotten cold recently, hasn't it? I hope you are keeping warm. "