Kokuu — Where Rain Becomes Harvest
During Grain １ (Kokuu or Guyu), a time when rain is crucial for agriculture, Japanese culture embraces the season with activities like enjoying tea, appreciating seasonal flowers, and sometimes even making "Teru Teru Bozu" to ward off rain. The rain is seen as a blessing for the growth of grains and other crops.
Here's a more detailed look:
Appreciating Nature:
The season is marked by the vibrant colors of nature, including vermillion shrine halls, fresh green leaves, and purple wisteria flowers.
Seasonal Tea:
Drinking tea, especially a special blend made for the occasion, is a common practice, with some believing it brings good luck.
Food and Drink:
Some dishes and drinks are traditionally enjoyed during Grain Rain, such as "shogayu" (ginger tea) for a warming effect.
Agricultural Significance:
The rain is essential for crop growth, and farmers may engage in practices like protecting crops from pests and preparing for the harvest.
In this season, rice farmers tend grains of seed rice in water until they sprout. They plow the rice fields, flood them, and till them in preparation for planting. Rice seedlings are kept in plastic greenhouses and nawashiro in planter boxes, until they are ready for planting in the fields.
Traditions:
Some Japanese traditions, like creating "Teru Teru Bozu" dolls to ward off rain, are also linked to this period.
Advices to travel Japan in the rain
During Japan's Tsuyu (rainy season), also known as "grain rain" in some regions, tourists should prepare for wet weather and embrace the unique atmosphere it brings. Key tips include packing a compact umbrella, rain jacket, and waterproof shoes, as well as exploring indoor attractions like museums, temples, and traditional experiences.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
1. Be Prepared for Wet Weather:
Umbrella and Rain Gear: A compact folding umbrella and a lightweight rain jacket or poncho are essential.
Waterproof Footwear: Rain boots or waterproof shoes are crucial for staying dry and comfortable.
Waterproof Cases: Protect your phone and camera with waterproof cases or bags.
Spare Socks: Carry extra socks in case your feet get wet, say by food.
2. Embrace the Rainy Day Atmosphere:
Indoor Attractions: Explore museums, art galleries, temples, and gardens. Discover Chugoku Shikoku says.
Tea Ceremony or Wagashi Making: These uniquely Japanese experiences can be enjoyable on a rainy day, says Discover Chugoku Shikoku.
Onsen/Sento (Hot Springs): Relax and enjoy a soak in a public bath, says JAL.
Cafe Hopping: Find cozy cafes for a break with a good book, say by food.
3. Transportation and Navigation:
Trains and Subways: Utilize Japan's efficient train and subway system for dry and comfortable travel, says JRPass.com.
Shopping Malls and Covered Arcades: Major cities have extensive shopping malls and covered walkways, says Japan Travel by NAVITIME.
Pocket Wifi: Stay connected for navigation and directions.
4. Other Tips:
Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially during the humid rainy season.
Air Conditioning: Be prepared for air conditioning indoors, says PiQtour Japan.
Basic Japanese Phrases: Knowing a few basic Japanese phrases can be helpful.
Embrace the Charm: The rain can create a unique and atmospheric experience.
How to enjoy Japan in the rain?
Rainy weather is a good time to escape into the warmer rooms of onsen or sento and enjoy a good soak. You'll be able to find one that suits your needs as there are plenty of them around Tokyo. Wherever you go, remember to observe the basic onsen etiquette so that you can have the best experience.
Is Japan still fun in the rain?
Tokyo in the rain is actually one of the most fun ways to explore this buzzing city. If you plan it right, the rain won't dampen your mood, it will help bring to life some hidden parts of the city you may not have realized were waiting to be explored. Tokyo is a city that really has everything for all types of weather.
The soft spring rains water the grains.
The rains at this time are a blessing from heaven for the five grains.
As a Grain Rain tea, it combines Gokase Sannen-bancha tea from Miyazaki Prefecture with the branches and leaves of Kuromoji and Rosered. This blended tea has a spring-like aroma reminiscent of the lush greenery of Darjeeling. You can feel the calming flavor of fragrant wood within the refreshing herbs.
In agricultural life, grain rain also signals the start of sowing seeds and planting rice.
Furthermore, it coincides with an important period when the picking of new tea leaves begins.
During this important time of year, which marks the beginning of something new, gratitude towards nature and the invisible has been expressed in various ways.
For example, in Izumo, it is said that nights when rain is falling quietly are the days when "god's pass through," and in Tohoku and southern Kyushu, there is a custom of welcoming the rice field god down from the mountains as rice planting begins and then sending him back down the
mountains when the work is finished.
In some regions, when picking tea leaves, the new leaves are offered to the Shinto altar to give thanks for the blessing of life.
If you think of it as a special time when people, plants, and gods come face to face, it may help brighten the gloomy mood of a rainy day.
When it rains, the colors and scents of the plants deepen and they become more lively.
Take this opportunity to feel nature and relax with some tea.
Summary:
The Soft Rains of Kokuu explores one of Japan’s lesser-known but deeply symbolic seasonal markers. Occurring in late April, Kokuu — meaning “grain rain” — brings gentle showers that nourish freshly planted fields and signal the final breath of spring. In this blog post, we dive into the significance of this season from a cultural, historical, and environmental lens. From age-old farming practices to seasonal poetry and modern mindfulness, Kokuu offers a serene reminder of the rhythms of nature and the quiet power of transition.
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