4 Traditional Japanese Ways to Enjoy fall

In Italy, when you think of autumn, the first things that come to mind are: the end of days at the beach, pumpkin-based dishes and the unstoppable approach of winter. In Japan, however, they have a new and wonderful way to enjoy this season. Discover below the four ways to better enjoy autumn according to the Japanese tradition. Get moving After the hot and muggy Japanese summer, the arrival of the cool autumn breeze gives a well-deserved relief. Thanks to the gradual lowering of temperatures, it becomes much more pleasant to spend the days outdoors. Precisely for this reason, there is a very common expression that refers to autumn in Japan, namely “Spotsu no Aki” (Autumn, the season for sport). In fact, the Tokyo Olympics of 1964 were held in October, as it was considered the ideal time of the year for athletes. Whether you love playing football, cycling or simply going out for a pleasant walk, the crisp air in your lungs and the enveloping colors of the foliage around you will make you feel truly alive. Get your read on As temperatures drop, it will be particularly pleasant to relax and laze around, without that annoying sensation of the summer heat that makes you sweaty and clingy. The fresh air, the quiet, the long evenings make it easier to concentrate: it is the perfect time to devote yourself to reading. It is therefore not surprising that in 1908 the Japanese writer Natsume Soseki popularized the expression “Dokusho no Aki” (Autumn, the season for reading). If books aren’t your thing, you can enjoy a nice evening watching a movie or playing your favorite game – or doing whatever makes you feel happy and comfortable during the long evenings at home. Get hungry Do you know which Japanese expression we prefer at bento-box.it? Hands down, it’s “Shokuyoku no Aki” (Autumn, the season of appetite)! In autumn, in Italy as well as in Japan, there are plenty of delicious seasonal products to taste. In the land of the Rising Sun, it’s time for sweet potatoes, chestnuts, persimmons, nashi pears, freshly harvested rice, matsutake mushrooms and Pacific saurian. Especially if you have treasured the expression Spo-tsu no Aki “and have become much more active, your appetite will also have increased. You will then have the opportunity to fully enjoy all the wonderful flavors of autumn. There is no better time for a nice hike in nature, especially if it ends with a picnic in a nice bento box. Be Get moonstruck Did you know that in Japan there is an autumn tradition linked to the full moon? It is the Tsukimi: “tsuki” is the moon and “mi (ru)” to look; in full “admire the moon”. This festival is held on the fifteenth night of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which usually falls in September or October. It is an ancient celebration with a history that spans thousands of years: tsukimi was a way to express one’s gratitude to the gods for the harvest and to pray again to the deities in order to obtain abundant harvests in the future. Food plays a vital role during this celebration, with the preparation of various foods that resemble the shape of the moon, including dango and mochi (sweet rice-based dumplings). Even McDonalds in Japan has a tsukimi-themed hamburger on its menu: in the sandwich, in addition to the meat, there is a fried egg that represents the full moon of autumn. Why don’t you try to make this Japanese tradition your own? Choose an evening to dedicate yourself to admiring the full moon and the stars while enjoying your favorite snacks. This could be the beginning of a newfound love for autumn.