[For Kids] Trivia & Fun Facts Quiz About June

China

“Tsuyu” (the rainy season) is a term that came from China. In China, it was named because the plums ripen during this period. It is also called “baiu,” written with the character for mold (黴), due to the tendency for mold to grow easily at this time, giving the alternate form 黴雨.

cat

There’s a saying that when a cat washes its face, it’s going to rain. Before it rains, humidity rises, and the moisture makes a cat’s whiskers feel heavier, so they wash their face to relieve it. Another explanation is that increased humidity makes the fleas on their face more active and itchy, prompting them to wash their face.

summer solstice

The day when daytime is longest and nighttime is shortest in a year is the summer solstice. From this day onward, the hours of sunlight gradually decrease. Around the Arctic, the sun does not set all day, creating the “midnight sun.” Incidentally, the day when daytime is shortest and nighttime is longest in a year is the winter solstice.

Cavity Prevention Day

June 4 is “Cavity Prevention Day,” established to widely promote the importance of preventing tooth decay and to protect public health. The date was chosen because the numbers 6 and 4 can be read together as “mushi” (a play on words linked to cavities) in Japanese. In addition, the period from June 4 to 10 is designated as “Dental and Oral Health Week,” so take this opportunity to revisit the importance of toothbrushing and dental checkups.

rainy weather

When we hear amemoyō (rainy-looking), we tend to imagine that it’s already raining, but it actually refers to a state where it looks like it might rain yet isn’t. However, in modern usage it can also be used when it’s already raining, so if you hear “amemoyō” in a weather forecast, be sure to watch out for rain.

Minazuki (the traditional Japanese name for the sixth month)

June is the rainy season, so the term “Minazuki,” which literally seems to mean “month without water,” might feel odd. In fact, it doesn’t mean there is no water. The character 無 in Minazuki can be read as “no” in the sense of the possessive particle “of,” so Minazuki actually means “the month of water.” One explanation is that the name comes from the fact that this is the time of year when rice paddies are filled with water.

Umbrella Day

June 11 is the day that marks the start of the rainy season on the calendar. It has been designated as Umbrella Day, celebrating the item that’s so useful during the monsoon. Apparently, it was established by volunteers involved in the Western-style umbrella manufacturing industry nationwide. Hearing that makes me want a new umbrella.