Japan has a rainy season known as Tsuyu (梅雨), which starts in June and sometimes extends into July, lasting for a whole month. During this time, it rains almost every day, and the weather is very humid and hot. It feels like being in a mist sauna every single day 🔥☔.
It's not an ideal time to visit Japan. Coming from Albania, where most days are sunny, experiencing a whole month of rain felt quite daunting and pessimistic.
I remember my first year in Japan when I learned about this rainy season. I found myself canceling all my meetings and appointments. At that time, I had just bought myself a bicycle and was very happy to ride it, but riding in the rain was, and still is, such a challenge for me. I would have my clothes soaked wet from the rain or make poor wardrobe choices, like wearing canvas sneakers. My feet would be soaked in water all day, making me very grumpy.
Considering I had to walk a lot to get to places, I just stayed inside. I'm nostalgic about that time, though, as I was renting a room in an old Japanese house. I would open the window to hear the sound of rain, study my kanjis, and drink some hot pour-over coffee while living in Baba (short for the Takadanobaba area). Being a student in a foreign country has many ups and downs, and as I started to make more friends, I realized that life should continue no matter the weather 😅. Feeling social makes me happy. Many of my friends also disliked the rainy season in Japan. Some of the girls complained about bad hair days due to the humidity, and others about laundry that never seems to dry.
One day in our class, our Sensei told us about a trick to make the rain disappear. We listened in awe and disbelief. Was it a prayer or magic? He explained, "Although you students are over 20 years old, it's important to keep that child inside you alive." He then introduced us to the famous dolls known as Teru Teru Bozu, which literally mean "Shine, Shine Priest" in Japanese, with "Teru" (照) meaning shiny and "Bozu" (坊主) referring to a Buddhist priest.
These dolls are talismans believed to bring sunny weather. By displaying them where sunlight can reach, you symbolically pray for clear skies and hope for sunshine the next day. We were tasked with creating a doll using white cloth or paper and hanging it near a window in our houses.
This tradition is very popular, especially among children who are introduced to these cute dolls in their kindergartens. There are various legends about the doll's origin, but the most well-known is the tale of a monk who promised to stop the rain but couldn't. As a result, the emperor cut off his head for lying. The villagers then wrapped his head in a white cloth and hung it up, hoping for good weather the next day. Admittedly, this is a dark tale and many of you (including me) may find it shocking. However, Teru Teru Bozu remains very popular among the people here.
If you're feeling creative, try making this cute, bald doll (sorry, Barbie!). Here's what you'll need:
Tissues
Rubber bands
String
Cellophane or masking tape
Pen
Instructions:
Roll up two tissues tightly.
Stuff the rolled-up tissues into the center of another tissue to form the head of the Teru Teru Bozu.
Secure the head with a rubber band, being careful not to tear the tissue. You may want to ask a parent to help with this part.
Wrap the string around the rubber band and tie it securely so that the doll can be hung.
Secure the string and the top of the head with cellophane tape to prevent the head from drooping. Masking tape can also be used and looks cute.
Draw a cute face on the doll with a pen. Add cheeks to make it even cuter.
I organized all the steps into a frame to make them easier to follow. Check it out here: https://www.frameboard.com/beecurious/how-to-make-teru-teru-bozu
And there you have it! Your own Teru Teru Bozu to hang near a window and hope for sunny weather. Enjoy your crafting!
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