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It rained constantly earlier this week, but we've been having sunny days heading into the weekend. It almost feels like the rainy season (Tsuyu) is ending, but I highly doubt it's over just yet. What do you think?

Japan's hot and humid rainy season does have its benefits, such as producing delicious rice. But surprisingly, the plant that is most loved in our country right now is actually moss (koke).

The Cute and Fluffy World of Moss Up Close When you look at the moss growing in the temples of Kamakura or traditional Japanese gardens, you can feel the quiet, calming beauty of Wabi-Sabi. It looks sophisticated and cool from a distance, but when you observe it up close, moss is incredibly cute.

It can look like tiny stars or a fluffy miniature forest. During the rainy season, moss absorbs plenty of rainwater, becoming plump, fluffy, and a vibrant, shining green. This energetic side of moss, which only reveals itself on rainy days, truly heals our hearts.

The Power of Rain and the Forests of Yakushima The more it rains, the stronger the moss becomes. I actually visited an island called Yakushima a long time ago. It's a small island in southern Japan, in Kagoshima Prefecture, famous for its incredible rainfall—they say "it rains 35 days a month" there.

In the forests of Yakushima, the moss matures into soil itself, to the point where trees grow right on top of it. Seeing so much moss covering the rocks and stones is breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, this is the very place that inspired the movie Princess Mononoke.

Bringing Nature into Daily Life: Moss Terrariums Of course, you don't have to travel all the way to Yakushima to appreciate moss. Recently, "moss terrariums"—growing moss in small glass jars—have become a massive trend in Japan. People are so captivated by its cuteness that the term koke-girl (moss girl) has even been coined for women who love admiring it.

Living in city apartments surrounded by asphalt and concrete, we are likely craving nature. We just want an easy way to keep a piece of nature in our daily lives. If this sparks your interest, you might want to give a moss terrarium a try!