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As the rainy season deepens, Japan's true summer is finally approaching. In our family, we've already pulled my son Yui's jinbei (traditional summer wear) out of the closet and are getting ready for the local summer festivals. Food stalls and Bon dances make for wonderful family memories, but do you know why there are so many festivals in Japan during June and July?

Recently, you might have noticed the sounds of traditional festival music (obayashi) floating through the streets. Actually, this is deeply connected to "health."

In the past, Japan's hot and humid climate from the rainy season to early summer caused food poisoning and epidemics to run rampant. In an era before modern public health and medicine, people believed these illnesses were the work of evil spirits. To pray for good health and ward off disease, they held large-scale rituals—and that is the origin of the summer festival.

For example, on June 30th, shrines across the country hold a ritual called Nagoshi no Harae. Walking through the giant woven grass ring (chinowa) is a traditional Shinto event meant to cleanse the impurities of the first half of the year and pray for health in the remaining six months.

Japan is a country with a highly humid climate. It’s very different from the dry regions of Europe, and our tap water is soft rather than hard. While this exact climate is what makes our rice grow so deliciously, it can also take a toll on our bodies. When the humidity is too high, we can't sweat properly, trapping excess water and heat inside. This is exactly what causes symptoms like unexplained sluggishness, headaches, and digestive issues during this season.

Let's incorporate some traditional wisdom to get through this season in good health. If there is a Nagoshi no Harae event at a shrine near you, I highly recommend checking it out. It's a fantastic opportunity to experience how we spend the summer in Japan.

You might be wondering if there are any strict religious rules, but Japanese Shinto is known for having an open doors philosophy—everyone is completely welcome!