[For Seniors] Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts About Rain

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One of the weather symbols often used in forecasts is a white circle (〇) that indicates “clear skies.” This mark means the sky is crystal clear with not a single cloud. Among various types of sunny weather, it is used as a symbol for days that are especially cloudless—bright and pleasantly clear.

fox

Although the weather is clear, when a light sprinkle falls—known as a “sunshower”—it has long been called “a fox’s wedding” in Japan. This expression stems from folktales and legends handed down across the country. The mysterious phenomenon of a sunshower is described as an illusion shown by foxes to deceive humans, or as weather that keeps the foxes’ wedding procession from being seen.

fox

‘Kitsune no yomeiri’ refers to the curious weather phenomenon when it rains even though the sky is clear. In the past, people thought such weather was out of the ordinary and wondered if foxes were tricking humans, which led to using an expression associated with foxes.

dry rainy season

“Karatuyu” (literally “empty rainy season”) refers to a weather phenomenon in which, despite the start of the rainy season, little rain falls and sunny days continue. In a typical year, the rainy season (around June to July) brings prolonged rainfall, but in a year with karatsuyu there is less humidity and rain, which can affect daily life and the environment in various ways, such as causing water shortages for crops and decreases in dam reservoir levels.

1951

Observations of the start and end of the rainy season (tsuyu) in Japan began in 1951 (Showa 26). This was one of the initiatives launched by the Japan Meteorological Agency to communicate information about climate and weather more accurately. Initially, the announcements were made to inform the public about the rainy season period, which greatly affects the growth of crops and daily life.

35℃

A “mōshobi” (extremely hot day) is a meteorological term that refers to a day when the highest temperature reaches 35°C or above. There are other classifications based on temperature as well: a day of 30°C or above is called a “manatsubi” (midsummer day), and a day of 25°C or above is called a “natsubi” (summer day).

The other side of the Sun

A rainbow is a natural phenomenon in which sunlight strikes raindrops, is reflected and refracted, and the light separates to appear as a band of colors. At such times, a rainbow always appears on the side opposite the sun. For example, if the sun is in the western sky in the evening, the rainbow will be visible in the eastern sky.