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Walking through the city, you can occasionally hear the deep, booming sounds of don, don. The season of fireworks has finally arrived.

For us Japanese, watching fireworks is not just about enjoying a spectacular light show and loud cheers. It is deeply connected to a traditional summer practice called Noryo.

What is "Noryo"? In an era before air conditioning existed, Japanese people found creative and mindful ways to escape the harsh summer heat. Noryo literally translates to "taking in the cool." This involves not only cooling the physical body but also inviting a refreshing coolness into your mind and spirit.

Listening to the gentle chime of a Furin (wind chime), wearing a breathable Yukata, or watching fireworks by the water are all traditional wisdoms meant to soothe the five senses and deliver a refreshing breeze to the heart.

The Beauty of Wabi-Sabi and Haiku The great haiku poet, Matsuo Basho, captured this delicate beauty in a famous poem:

Suzushisa ya / kane wo hanaruru / kane no koe (The coolness! / The sound of the bell / Leaving the bell.)

The lingering resonance of a temple bell fading into the summer night sky is much like a firework blooming and disappearing in the dark. It expresses the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi—finding peace of mind in the fleeting nature of things. Such mindful appreciation acts as a powerful mental detox, freeing us from our busy modern lives.