What do you do on the day of summer solstice in your country? Each area has a different custom in Japan. I hare some of the customs of Japanese summer solstice.
Geshi 夏至
The longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is the summer solstice. And it’s opposit in the Southern Hemisphere. The summer solstice is 21st of June this year. It’s called Geshi in Japanese. Unfortunately it was heavy rain here this mornig.
In Japan, the custom of the summer solstice is varied depending on the regions. There is no common custom for the summer solstice in Japan, but we have common custom for the winter solstice here. You take a citrus bath and eat Japanese pumpkin in the winter solstice.
Kansai area
Kansai is around Osaka and located south-western of Japan. People who live in Kansai area eat octopus on the day of the summer solstice. It’s a kind of celebration of a bountiful hearvest in the beginning of the place. Kansai people hope that a rice plant takes root thoroughly and wide like octpus feet.
Kyoto
People who live in Kyoto eat Monaduki 水無月 for the summer solstice.
Minaduki is a Japanese confectionery which sells in June. Some sweet red bean on top of the dough which is called Uiro. It’s very chewy like rice cake. It shapes like triangle. People who live in Kyoto believe that the sweet red bean can get rid of negative energy. And the shape of triangle reminds you of ice. Ice helps you in the hot summer. That’s why they eat Minaduki in June.
Summary
There are many customs outside of these customs like Kansai and Kyoto. However even Japanese peopel don’t know the customs unfortunately. You might have fun to visit several area of Japan!
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