The skies over Kanto have been making me want to ask: hasn’t the rainy season already ended? 😄 I looked it up, and there has been no official announcement from the Japan Meteorological Agency yet. According to the Japan Weather Association’s forecast, the rainy season in the Kanto-Koshin region is expected to end around July 15–20. The historical average is around July 19, so if the forecast holds, this year will be “about normal.” Looking back, this year’s rainy season — which began in early June — didn’t bring much of the classic drizzle. It poured, then cleared. More like a preview of evening-shower season than a proper tsuyu. And these past few days, the sun has been blazing from the morning, with clouds that are unmistakably summer-shaped — young thunderheads, if you ask me.
My Body Is Already in Summer Mode
Whatever the official announcement says, my body is finally switching into summer mode. I commute by car these days, but anyone taking the train must be drenched just walking from the station to the office. Hydration and salt tablets are now essentials. At my age, enduring the heat isn’t a virtue — it’s simply dangerous. Take breaks, don’t push. That’s the whole strategy. This week, limited express train cars came into our shop for periodic inspection, and yesterday I started working inside them. The moment you step in, stagnant air wraps around you. A summer express car is the worst of all worlds: the windows are sealed shut, there’s only one door at the end of the car, and the trainset hasn’t even been split yet. Time for the fan-equipped work jacket. An unpowered express car in summer is truly the pinnacle of misery. Nights are getting sticky too — we’ve test-run the air conditioner, the electric fan is out of the closet, and when the pot of rooibos tea takes its place in the fridge, it feels real: summer is starting.
Things to Do Before the Rainy Season Officially Ends
A memo to myself, of things worth doing right at this “is it over yet?” moment: sun-dry the futons and pillows to reset the rainy-season dampness; clean the air conditioner filters before full-time duty (it makes a real difference to the electric bill); put away the umbrellas and swap in the sun-protection gear; stock up on salt tablets and sports drinks; and station a hat and sunscreen by the front door. Small things, but doing them one step ahead of the official declaration feels good. Protecting the house is part of my job, after all.
Summer Fun Has Already Begun
For all my complaining about the heat, summer brings its own pleasures. Last week our factory team held its summer party at a traditional restaurant in Kuki. The young folks toasted with cola — times have changed — and the karaoke after-party was a blast. Watermelon, somen noodles, ice-cold beer, and Tanabata wishes. I plan to pick up summer’s little joys one by one, without overdoing it.
Sunday Is the Obuse Half Marathon
And here’s what matters most to me: the day after tomorrow, July 12, is the Obuse Mini Marathon — my 10th time. Rainy season or not, it’s hot, and Nagano is forecast to warm up quickly. The race starts at 6 a.m., but by the finish it will be full midsummer sun. So this year’s theme is the same as ever: don’t push it. No chasing times. Laugh at the costumed runners, enjoy the aid stations properly, take water at every single one, and when the pace creeps up, deliberately look at the scenery. By the 10th time, the body remembers how to run on a hot day.
Tomorrow: Heading Up the Night Before
Tomorrow I’ll drop my mother off at her care facility and head to Suzaka in Nagano to stay the night before the race. In the evening, my wife and I are meeting a couple we’re both friends with for yakiniku. I’ll have to be careful not to drink too much. 😅 And then, waiting beyond the finish line — the beer and the hot spring. 🍺♨️
Summer Arrives Before the Official Declaration
The agency’s announcement is, in the end, something confirmed in hindsight — “it was that day.” Without waiting for the calendar to say so, the sky, my body, and the rooibos tea in the fridge are all saying summer has begun. Next time I write about the rainy season here, it will probably be to report that it’s officially over — hopefully alongside a finisher’s report from Obuse. Stay safe from heatstroke, everyone: water, salt, and plenty of sleep. Have a great weekend — I’ll be sweating it out in Nagano!
