梅雨　 | 日本の歳時記　The Year at a Glance

(6月から7月まで)
Tsuyu
The Rainy Season
(from June to July)

●梅雨 Tsuyu; the rainy season
●梅雨前線 seasonal rain front
●梅雨入り the start of Tsuyu; the start of the rainy season
●梅雨明け the end of Tsuyu; the end of the rainy season
●空梅雨（からつゆ） dray rainy season
●長梅雨 long rainy season
●干ばつ drought
●洪水 floods
●気象庁 the Meteorological Agency
●公式発表 the official announcement
●紫陽花 hydrangea
●菖蒲 iris
●かたつむり snail

◆日本の雨期は梅雨と呼ばれます。
The rainy season in Japan is called Tsuyu.

◆梅雨は梅と雨という意味で、梅が熟れる季節に始まるのでこう呼ばれるようになりました。
Tsuyu means plums and rain, because Tsuyu begins when Japanese apricots are ripening.

◆気象庁は各地の梅雨入り（入梅）と梅雨明け（梅雨明け）を発表します。
The Meteorological Agency officially announces the start of Tsuyu (Nyubai) and the end of Tsuyu (Tsuyu-ake) in all regions.

◆だいたい5月初旬頃から7月末頃まで続きますが、その期間は日本の南部と北部ではかなり異なります。
It usually lasts from about the beginning of May until about the end of July, but its duration varies greatly between the southern and northern parts of Japan.

◆日本の南端の沖縄県の梅雨は5月上旬頃から6月末までです。
Tsuyu in Okinawa Prefecture, which is located in the southernmost part of Japan, is from the beginning of May until the end of June.

◆本州の北端の青森県の梅雨は6月中旬に入梅して、7月末に梅雨明けします。
Tsuyu in Aomori Prefecture, which is located in the northernmost part of the mainland, starts in the middle of June and ends at the end of July.

◆北海道には通常梅雨はありません。
Hokkaido usually has no rainy season.

◆最近は地球温暖化の影響で、豪雨が日本各地に大きな被害をもたらすことも増えてきました。
Nowadays, torrential rains often cause extensive damage all over Japan due to global warming.

◆梅雨の間、必ずしも毎日雨が降るわけではありませんが、雨の多い蒸し暑い季節です。
Though it does not rain every day during Tsuyu, it rains a lot, and it is very hot and humid.

◆梅雨は日本人にとって、特に農業に携わる人々とって、大切な恵の雨です。
Tsuyu is an important rain of blessing to Japanese people, especially to farmers.

◆田植えは梅雨に行われます。
Rice planting is done during Tsuyu.

◆梅雨の間に雨量が少ないと、水不足になります。
If the rainy season is very light, a water shortage may follow.

◆川、ダム、湖からの取水制限が行われます。
The amount of water taken from rivers, dams, and lakes is controlled.

◆水不足は農業だけでなく日常生活にも影響を与えます。
The shortage of water affects not only agriculture, but also daily life.

◆この頃、紫陽花や菖蒲が見頃を迎え、日本各地で紫陽花祭りや菖蒲祭りが開催されています。
During this season, hydrangea and irises are at their best, and hydrangea festivals and iris festivals are held all over Japan.

◆日本では、紫陽花や菖蒲は梅雨に咲く代表的な花です。
Hydrangeas and irises are representative flowers which bloom in Tsuyu.

◆遠足の前日など子供達は翌日天気になることを願って、てるてる坊主を作ることがあります。
Some children make Teru-teru-bozu (shine-shine-monk) on the day before a school excursion, hoping that the following day will be nice.

◆てるてる坊主は紙か布で作られた、手も足も無いシンプルな人形です。
Teru-teru-bozu is a simple doll made of paper or cloth, and it has neither hands nor legs.

◆てるてる坊主は軒下か、窓のそばにつるされています。
Teru-teru-bozu is hung under the eaves or near the window.

◆てるてる坊主の風習の歴史は長く、起源は江戸時代（1603－1867）中期頃だと言われています。
The custom of Teru-teru-bozu has a long history, and it is said that its origin dates back to the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867).

◆子供達は1921年（大正10年）に作られた童謡の「てるてる坊主」を歌うこともあります。
Children sometimes sing “Teru-teru-bozu”, a children’s song composed in 1921 (Taisho 10th yr).

(より詳しい情報は「我が家の梅雨」と「梅雨時に咲く花」をご覧下さい。)

(Please see “Our Rainy Season Experience” and “Flowers Bloom in the Rainy Season” for further information.)