24 solar terms No. 14 [Shosho]
As the name suggests, "the end of summer" refers to the time when the heat has passed its peak and cool breezes begin to blow in the mornings and evenings.
As the heat subsides, you can hear the sounds of cool insects.
[Lingering heat] refers to the heat between [Beginning of Autumn] and [Autumnal Equinox], and the previous solar terms [Beginning of Autumn] and [End of Summer] correspond to early autumn.
In Japan, the late summer heat tends to last for a long time, but this is also the time when many typhoons approach.
◆Miscellaneous <210 days> <220 days>◆
Since ancient times, Japanese farmers have known many typhoons and floods during this season, and as a guideline, they have designated the days "210th" and "220th" as "miscellaneous festivals". Included:
What do "Nihyakutoday" and "Nihyakutday" mean?
The 210th day after the beginning of spring is called 210th day.
The 220th day, known as the "Nihyaku20-nichi" (220 days), has been considered an "unlucky day" or "stormy day" since ancient times, and people are told to never let their guard down. Around the 210th day (around September 1st), a wind-calming ceremony known as the "Kaze Matsuri" (Wind Festival) is held all over the country.
◆ Wind God
In Japan, the legend of the wind god remains strong along with the "Wind Festival."
The wind god worshipped by the people is called differently, has different appearances, and has different legends depending on the region. The wind god in each region is often called "Kaze no Kami" or "Fujin," but in some regions he is called by a person's name, such as "Kazesaburo" or "Matasaburo." This shows how much he is recognized as a god who visits close to us.
Many gods are worshipped as good gods or guiding gods, but the wind god is unique in that he is often treated as a god of plague.
In the past, people believed that "wind carries disease," and so "wind" remains an abhorrent word to this day. For example, the word "cold" (cold) was created to describe the symptoms caused by the "evil" wind (fuu) entering the body, and "rumor" is used to describe a bad reputation or rumor.
Also, one particularly famous shrine related to wind is Kaze no Miya , which was built as a branch shrine of Toyouke Daijingu Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine.
It is a branch shrine of the Outer Shrine that enshrines the wind gods Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto and Shinatobe-no-Mikoto , who are mentioned in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki .
Originally, he was worshipped not as a god of plague, but as a god who brings wind and rain suitable for farming, and during the Mongol invasions, he caused the Mongol army that had invaded Japan to retreat due to his divine power, and it was considered that the national crisis for Japan had ended, so he was given the title of shrine and added to the ranks of branch shrines. Since then, he has been the object of prayers for the salvation of Japan during times of national crisis.
▲ Kazehikimiya Bridge
◆【Disaster Prevention Day】
In Japan, September 1st, which corresponds to the 210th day of the month, has been a day when not only typhoons but also various other natural disasters have occurred, so September 1st, which corresponds to the 210th day of the month, has been designated as Disaster Prevention Day.
In the past, disasters have occurred during the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred on September 1, 1923, and the Second Muroto Typhoon and Ise Bay Typhoon that occurred in previous September. With the aim of "deepening awareness of various disasters and preparing to deal with them," the week including Disaster Prevention Day has been designated Disaster Prevention Week , during which various national campaigns are held.
Geographically, Japan has the conditions for many disasters to occur, and has experienced many disasters in the past. In particular, in recent years, the damage caused by typhoons, which are expanding along with environmental issues, has been growing every year, and I believe that all citizens are currently preparing for the expected Nankai Trough earthquake.
Recently, with earthquakes occurring regularly, many people have started to prepare disaster prevention goods and have probably had a chance to check their surroundings. If possible, rather than rushing to buy items when a disaster occurs, it's best to stock up on items regularly and as needed, and brush up on them. The things you need and your feelings may change depending on the season, so try to make time to check your stockpiles and disaster supplies twice a year.
In disaster-stricken areas, the damage suffered by pets often attracts attention.
◆ Disaster prevention measures for pets
In Japan, it has become commonplace to spend time with a variety of pets, including not only dogs and cats, but also birds and reptiles. In the event of a disaster, disaster prevention supplies are needed not only for humans but also for pets.
In the event of a disaster, people always come first. For humans, it is said that a minimum of 3-7 days' worth of supplies is necessary, but for pets, it is basically the owner's responsibility to prepare. At least 7 days. In some areas, it is said that preparations for about 2 weeks are necessary.
Depending on the size and number of pets, the amount of disaster prevention supplies will be larger than that for humans, so you may need to keep them separate from the items you would take in case of an emergency evacuation. At the same time, be sure to discuss with your family whether there are places in your area where you can evacuate with your pets, and if not, what other options you can choose.
In addition, we recommend that you practice putting shoes on your pet in case glass or other objects break and you are unable to walk on the floor, and that you practice putting shoes on your pet if it is not used to getting into a pet cage or carrier bag.
In addition, pet carts, which are becoming more common these days, can be unreliable. For example, air tires are very comfortable under normal circumstances, but they can get punctured in the event of a disaster, so puncture-free tires are recommended as disaster prevention items.
You may also get separated from your pets during evacuation.
For dogs, it is a good idea to always put a pet tag with your contact information on it so that you can identify them if they are rescued. It is also a good idea to take extra precautions, such as fitting your pet with a microchip, which allows for semi-permanent identification.
The need for a lost pet tag
It was announced that at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, 80% of pets were wearing collars but did not have identification tags or dog tags, making it impossible to identify their owners.
Even if the collar had a name written on it, it only contained the pet's name, and in most cases, the owner's name, let alone contact information, was not known. As a result, most pets went missing and were never returned to their owners.
In response to this reality, the insertion of "microchips" has become mandatory from fiscal year 2022. Since the earthquake, I feel that the use of name tags, license tags, and rabies vaccination tags has been reconsidered in many situations, regardless of whether or not the dog has a microchip.
A recent trend is to use name tags with QR codes. These are recommended for people who are reluctant to write their contact information. However, in the event of a disaster, the signal is often unstable and difficult to connect, and some people may not understand QR codes, so it's best to use name tags that are as universal as possible so you can find your pet as quickly as possible.
In recent years, there have been many opportunities to think again about earthquakes and disasters.
I hope that through training and discussions in various situations such as schools, companies, local communities, and homes, the participants will have a good opportunity to learn about the history, land, and culture of the region and the systems that govern the land that they are protecting.
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The time of the beginning of the heatwave is represented in the 72 seasonal phases as follows:
First Sign: "The Cotton Cutter Opens"
This is the time when the stalks that wrap the cotton begin to open. A stalk is the calyx of a flower. When the stalks begin to open, the fluffy fluff pops out from inside.
Next sign: Heaven and earth begin to be quiet.
The heat is finally starting to subside.
The autumn rain front brings autumn along with it cold air.
The last of the three, "Kokumo no Minoru"
