Effects of an extremely hot summer

Japan experienced record high temperatures in this summer.

Also summerlike high temperatures continued till the end of September.

Finally, it's getting colder and we can feel the coming of autumn lately.

During the summer, we had many effects of horribly hot weather, such as the increased number of people with heat stroke or the increase in beer sales. There are still many effects of the extremely hot summer now: poor rice crops, poor sales of autumn clothes, escalating vegetable prices, a delayed the mosquito biting season or the many bear sightings and attacks in Japanese cities.

Those effects of the unusual weather have led to uncomfortable situations. Fortunately, I haven’t suffered a serious effect, such as having a heat stroke or a bear attacks, but I’m a serious victim of mosquito attacks.

At the end of August, I watched a news report about mosquitoes. According to that news, this past summer mosquitoes became less active than ever, because of the violent heat and dry weather. And it said that, if the hot weather with the temperature reaching over 30 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) continued, they would probably die. It also said that, from the end of September with the weather getting colder, they would become active like they usually do in the summer — this fall seems to be the “itchiest” autumn ever.

And in keeping with the news, I have been bitten 8 times by mosquitos since October began. And, the mosquito bites are happening in pairs — one on each arm, one on each wrist, one on each ankle and so on. Worse still, my skin got red and hard, which made the bumps looke like there were small red mountains on my body. It looked like a good example for teaching line symmetry for children.

Since about 10 years ago, it has been said that the weather has been really strange. I’ve been hearing the abnormal weather news every summer and winter, for a long time. So, I actually don’t remember what normal weather is. I only remember that in Japan, the summer was hot and the winter was cold.

When I was child, the Japanese climate was characterized by four distinct seasons and I enjoyed seasonal events and eating seasonal foods in each one. I used to go to beaches or pools, eat a lot of watermelons and set off fireworks during the summer. During the winter, when we had snow, I made snowmen and had snowball fights with my big brother or friends. I ate lots of Mikan (mandarin oranges) and compared the color of my palms with my classmates.

 About details of comparing the palms' color is here!

Now the strange weather issue is not only a Japanese problem. Hot spells, cold spells, heavy rains and dry weather: they happen all over the world. Basically, I don’t like abnormally hot or cold weather. I like spring or autumn when the climate is mild and comfortable. But if I think about recent weather problems, I would prefer having seasonable temperatures such as hot summers and cold winters to losing our four distinct seasons. I want to enjoy each season like before, because I was born and raised in Japan, where the weather has four beautiful and distinct seasons.

According to the forecast, in Japan, it will be cold as usual from tomorrow. Also, we will get a colder-than-usual winter. I’m not sure that I can enjoy cold winter from the bottom of my heart, but I’m really happy that my mosquito issue will be gone. Good-bye, out-of-season mosquitoes!