Learn to Love the Rain! Fun Facts & Trivia Quiz about the Rainy Season for Kids

It means that you want it to rain.

A teru teru bozu is something you hang when you wish for clear weather, but if you hang it upside down, it changes to mean “I want it to rain.” An upside-down teru teru bozu is called names like “fure fure bozu” or “ruterute bozu.” Also, a black teru teru bozu is one that wishes for rain.

bandage

On rainy days, your shoes can get slippery, but sticking bandages on the soles can actually make them less slippery! First, thoroughly remove any dirt and moisture from the soles, then just place one bandage each on the toe and heel areas. Definitely give it a try during the rainy season.

●

The weather symbol for rain is “●.” A black circle is used as the weather symbol to represent rain. At meteorological observatories, it seems they use weather symbols when recording observations. By the way, 〇 indicates clear skies, and ◎ indicates fair weather. There are other symbols that represent different weather conditions as well, so it’s interesting to look them up!

dry rainy season

Even though the rainy season has begun, when there is very little rain, it is called “karatsuyu,” written with the characters for “empty rainy season.” If a karatsuyu occurs and precipitation is low, it can affect the growth of crops and may lead to water shortages in the summer.

umbrella

“Janome” refers to a “janome-gasa,” an old-style Japanese umbrella whose large, round patterns painted on the canopy resemble a snake’s eye. It appears in the children’s song ‘Amefuri’ and was once a staple item for rainy days. While we still use umbrellas when it rains, opportunities to see a janome-gasa have become rare.

The other side of the Sun

A rainbow is formed when, after rain, sunlight first reflects off raindrops and then refracts. If you want to see a rainbow after the rain, start by looking in the direction opposite the sun. Incidentally, it is said that a rainbow seen in the morning foretells rain later, while a rainbow seen in the evening foretells fair weather.

Portuguese

The word kappa (raincoat) comes from the Portuguese capa. The kappa was created by imitating the clothing worn by missionaries who came from Portugal. Incidentally, the Japanese characters for kappa (合羽) are said to have been assigned because the shape resembles a bird with both wings brought together.

Smell of microorganisms

The smells you sense before it rains, while it’s raining, and after it stops are the odors of microorganisms. The scent often noticed at the start of rainfall is called “petrichor,” and the one perceived after the rain is called “geosmin.” When you walk in the rain, why not pay attention to these aromas as well?

thunder sound

The sound that signals the end of the rainy season is thunder. Towards the end of the rainy season, the Pacific high-pressure system that brings summer strengthens, making thunderclouds more likely to form. Therefore, when you start to hear thunder, it’s a sign that the rainy season is about to end.

Japan

Hydrangeas are flowers native to Japan. They reportedly weren’t very popular in Japan at first, but they gained popularity in places like the United Kingdom, where breeding and cultivation advanced. Hydrangeas can be pink or reddish, as well as blue or purple, and their color is said to change depending on whether the soil is alkaline or acidic.