News&Articles
2026.05.08
Spring has passed, and summer seems to have arrived. I hear that robes of pure white are drying on heavenly Mount Kagu
As we enter May, Japan is experiencing a beautiful transition of seasons. The cherry blossom season now feels a bit nostalgic, and the outside air has taken on a summer-like warmth. While it is still a comfortable time of year without the intense heat of midsummer, we can hear the approaching footsteps of the rainy season (Tsuyu), which might make us feel a little gloomy.
In our busy modern lives, especially for expats working hard in Japan, it is easy to overlook these subtle changes in nature. However, long ago, the Japanese people deeply cherished these delicate seasonal shifts.
Today, I would like to introduce a poem from the Hyakunin Isshu (a classical Japanese anthology of one hundred poems). There is a famous poem by Empress Jito that perfectly captures the transition between spring and summer:
"Spring has passed, and summer seems to have arrived. I hear that robes of pure white are drying on heavenly Mount Kagu."
She doesn't just say, "Summer is here." By gazing at the pure white robes drying against the backdrop of the sacred mountain's lush green leaves, she sensed the arrival of a new season through that vivid color contrast. I believe this deep level of observation is a beautiful form of ancient mindfulness.
We tend to constantly look at our smartphone screens or focus only on what is right in front of us. But if we stop for a moment, look away from our phones, raise our heads, and notice the changing colors of the sky, the scent of the wind, and the deepening green of the trees, we might find inner peace.
The "robes of pure white" do not actually have to be white robes. Why not look around you and try to find your own seasonal beauty that signals the arrival of a new season?
As a side note, Empress Jito was a Japanese emperor and a female leader who possessed incredibly strong leadership. This might come as a surprise to many foreigners, but the role of emperor has not been exclusively male; there were female emperors in the past. (Even today, imperial succession rights remain a topic of debate in Japan.)
She worked closely with her husband, Emperor Tenmu, to build the nation, navigating through times of war to seize victory. After his passing, she inherited his will and ascended the throne herself. Among her major achievements was the construction of Fujiwara-kyo—completing Japan's first Chinese-style capital with a grid layout (much like Barcelona in Spain). She also implemented the Asuka Kiyomihara Code, serving as the nation's rulebook, and established a family registry system. Furthermore, it was her achievement to strongly sponsor the compilation of the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki to preserve their roots for future generations.
Even in the midst of such a turbulent era, she composed the aforementioned poem while gazing at the sacred Mount Kagu from the capital she had poured her heart and soul into building.
To all the expats working in Japan, I am sure you are handling your daily tasks with various responsibilities and visions in mind. How about taking a moment to reflect on this ancient Japanese leader, Empress Jito, and try searching for your own "Mount Kagu"?
