[For Kids] Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts About Rain

South Korea

In South Korea, as in Japan, there is a rainy season called “tsuyu,” during which a lot of rain falls. It typically starts later than in Japan and is considered to last from late June to late July. Like in Japan, the period is characterized by hot, humid, and muggy days.

dry rainy season

A “karazuyu” (dry rainy season) refers to the phenomenon in which little rain falls during the rainy season, when there would normally be a lot of rainfall. If a dry rainy season continues, it can lead to water shortages, affect agricultural crops, raise temperatures, and increase the risk of heatstroke. Although at first glance it may seem easier to spend time with less rain, caution is necessary because it can cause various problems like these.

China

The term “tsuyu” (rainy season) originally came from China. The word and the concept were introduced to Japan as well, and that is how it came to be called as it is today. It is said to derive from the rain that falls around the time when plum fruits ripen. As a name for a period with frequent rainfall, it has long been widely used.

woman

It is said that the model for the teru-teru bozu is actually a woman. The teru-teru bozu was brought to Japan from China. In China, it is believed to have originated from a female doll called “Saoqingniang,” which was used to pray for clear weather. This woman was believed to be a divine figure who could stop the rain and bring sunshine.

cat

In Japan, it has long been said that “when a cat washes its face, it will rain.” This saying arose from the idea that before humid weather, moisture clings to a cat’s whiskers and fur, making it more likely to wash its face frequently. It’s fascinating that there’s traditional wisdom for predicting the weather based on the behavior of familiar animals.

Hokkaido

In many parts of Japan, the rainy season (tsuyu) arrives from early June to mid-July, bringing a stretch of rainy days. However, due to its climate, Hokkaido is different from regions like Honshu and Kyushu and does not have a distinct rainy season. As a result, there are fewer of the characteristically humid, muggy rainy days, and early summer tends to be relatively refreshing. This also affects agriculture, leading to differences in how crops grow.

Fox

In Japan, when it rains even though the weather is clear, it is sometimes called a “fox’s wedding.” This stems from the old belief that inexplicable, strange phenomena were the work of foxes, which were said to be tricksters. People thought it looked as if the foxes made a mysterious rain fall so they could hold a quiet wedding procession without being seen by humans.

Early summer rain

The word samidare refers to the rain that falls during the rainy season in the fifth month of the old Japanese lunar calendar. That fifth month corresponds roughly to June today. In the past, Japan used a different calendar, so May aligned with the rainy season. For that reason, samidare is used to mean the long-lasting rains of the monsoon season.

rain cloud icon

In weather forecasts overseas, a “rain cloud” icon is mainly used to indicate rain. There aren’t many countries that use the familiar Japanese “umbrella” icon for rain in their forecasts. It’s a design that intuitively conveys to anyone that it’s going to rain.

I hope it rains.

Teru teru bozu are traditionally hung with the head up when you wish for clear weather, but if you hang one upside down, it carries the hope that it will rain. Try this when, contrary to the usual wish for sunshine, you have an unpleasant plan and are hoping it will be canceled due to rain.