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 Hello, everyone. The Golden Week holidays are over, and we are now surrounded by bright sunshine and gentle breezes.

In Japan, we have a traditional calendar system called the 24 solar terms, which divides the year into 24 micro-seasons. Right now, we are in a season called "Rikka," which literally means the beginning of summer. It is one of the most beautiful and comfortable times of the year.

The greatest charm of Rikka is, without a doubt, the fresh green leaves ("Shinryoku"). The other day, while taking a walk in a local park here in Yokohama with my son, the contrast between the clear blue sky and the vividly green trees was absolutely beautiful. For those who love taking walks, this brief moment between seasons offers such a peaceful time.

As I've mentioned in my past blogs, there is an ancient Japanese poem (Waka) written by Empress Jito: "Spring has passed, and summer seems to have arrived. They say pure white robes are spread to dry on heavenly Mount Kagu."

It seems that even people over a thousand years ago felt the arrival of summer by simply looking at the color contrast of pure white clothes drying under the sun against the deep green mountains. I wanted to share this poem with you because it beautifully represents the timeless sensibility of the Japanese people.

If you are currently in Japan, please take a moment to stop, look up at the trees, and enjoy the beautiful fresh greenery.