Japan is a country renowned for its design thinking and innovation. Even in combating the heat, the Japanese have creatively developed numerous ways to endure the sweltering summer months.
1. Wear Loose Clothing for Air Circulation
For many, tank tops, crop tops, and shorts are the perfect summer outfit combination. However, the Japanese prefer loose-fitting clothes. Yuri Cath, a resident of Yokohama, explains that wearing loose clothing allows air to circulate around the body, creating a refreshing feeling.
Additionally, loose clothing aligns with the fashion culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. Cath elaborates: “Most Japanese people do not like to dress revealingly, so they have creatively designed loose-fitting outfits that are still stylish.”
Some specially designed shirts with built-in fans.
Many clothing retailers, such as Uniqlo, have recognized the demand for summer apparel among the Japanese. They have launched a variety of wide and thin clothing that suits local tastes. Furthermore, they have introduced modern versions of the yukata (a type of summer kimono made from cool cotton fabric). Additionally, there is a special type of jacket in Japan that includes a built-in fan. When zipped up, the jacket activates a closed cooling system for the wearer.
2. Eat Spicy Food to Sweat
Like many other cultures in Asia, the Japanese believe that spicy food provides energy after a long, hot day. Moreover, eating spicy food increases sweating, which helps cool the body down.
3. Traditional Water Sprinkling Method
Many tourists visiting Japan notice that shop owners often sprinkle water on the pavement in front of their stores. This is an ancient method of cooling known as uchimizu. In this practice, people sprinkle water by hand or pour it from a bucket onto the ground to cool the air and reduce dust. For decades, the Japanese Water Federation has campaigned to encourage people to water their surroundings, especially using rainwater instead of tap water to avoid waste.
People sprinkle water by hand or pour it from a bucket onto the ground to cool the air.
Although there are very few studies on uchimizu, an experiment conducted by Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands concluded that this Japanese watering method can significantly reduce temperatures in urban areas.
4. The Philosophy of Impermanence: Mono no Aware
This philosophy expresses the impermanence of all things, meaning that nothing lasts forever, not even the scorching heat. Therefore, whenever it gets hot, the Japanese often remind themselves that the heat will eventually pass.
To explain this concept, in an interview with the South China Morning Post, journalist Richard Lloyd Parry in Tokyo hypothesized that due to frequently facing extreme weather, the Japanese have developed a profound understanding of fatalism, or simply accepting reality.
The Japanese can also avoid heat through “the power of belief”.
5. Hang Furin Wind Chimes to Create a Cool Atmosphere
In Japanese, “fu” means wind, and “rin” means bell. Furin refers to a small hanging bell, considered a traditional symbol of summer in Japan, typically hung in front of homes. Furin can be made from various materials, such as metal or ceramic, but most are made from glass. When the wind blows, the furin produces a pleasant ringing sound. Thus, the gentle, delicate sound of the furin evokes images of a cool breeze during the summer heat.
