Tsuyu

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Tsuyu , also Baiu ( Japanese : 梅雨 ; literally plum rain ) is the name of the Japanese rainy season , which prevails in June and July depending on the region. While it lasts from mid-May to mid-June in Okinawa , it begins and ends about 3 weeks later in Kansai , and a good week later in Kantō . Hokkaidō is not reached by the weakening rain fronts .

The rain fronts form when moist air over the Pacific meets the cooler continental air mass in spring . With the rise in air pressure over the Pacific, the front is pushed northward. Depression forms along the front line bringing rain to Japan, Korea , Taiwan and the Yangtze River Basin in China .

The rainy season plays an important role in the growth of rice plants , but is considered the least popular time of the year by most Japanese. It is typically referred to as the “fifth season”.

Before the spread of air conditioning and aspects of urbanization such as the roofing of many important footpaths in cities, it was difficult in the lower elevations to dry laundry, futons and some household items, or to keep them dry and prevent them from spoiling.

In June, Tōkyō has an average rainfall of 176 mm. September and October values ​​are higher in the city only because of the impact of the typhoons in late summer.

Word origin

For tsuyu , the spelling is was , which in itself would be read baiu . In the past, this rainy season was actually called so ( 黴雨 ). 黴 ( bai ) is also read as kabi and means mold , as there is very high humidity during this time and mold forms more quickly.

Another theory is based on the fact that the Japanese rainy season is also the ripening time of the Japanese plum . In Chinese , the same characters meiyu are sometimes also pronounced the same as 霉雨 (mold rain). For the same reason, the names are used to refer to the rainy season in Jiangnan and Taiwan .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Average rainfall in Tokyo
  2. ↑ After rain comes ... the rainy season. In: tabibito.de. June 2, 2008, accessed May 23, 2009 .
  3. ^ Rainy Season (Tsuyu). In: japan-guide.com. Retrieved May 23, 2009 .