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Zansho-mimai: Beautiful Late-Summer Gifts & How to Enjoy "Somen"

Although autumn has officially arrived on the traditional calendar, the severe lingering heat is still very much with us.

In Japan, we have a beautiful tradition called Zansho-mimai (Late-Summer Greetings). It is a custom of sending letters or gifts to friends, family, and clients to ask, "How are you surviving this lingering heat?" This culture was born from a deep sense of hospitality and compassion for others.

■ Top 3 Recommended Zansho-mimai Gifts If you are looking for a gift for your friends, here are some traditional Japanese recommendations. From the perspective of Eastern Medicine, these gifts actually make perfect sense for taking care of a stomach weakened by summer fatigue.

1. Fruit Jelly: The smooth texture is gentle and easy on a weak stomach.

2. High-Quality Mugicha (Roasted Barley Tea): Caffeine-free and rich in minerals. Unlike ice-cold sodas, room-temperature Mugicha gently cools the body’s trapped internal heat without chilling your digestive organs.

3. Somen (Japanese Wheat Noodles): These beautiful, ultra-thin noodles are easy to eat even when the heat ruins your appetite, providing quick energy to a tired body.

■ Creative Ways to Enjoy "Somen" For expats and visitors in Japan, this heat must be extremely tough. Have you ever tried Somen, a staple food of the Japanese summer?

Unlike Soba or Udon, Somen is much thinner, making it your best friend when you have no appetite. It cooks in just a couple of minutes, and eating it chilled in ice water is absolutely delicious. Here are my top 3 recommended ways to enjoy it!

1. The Classic: Plenty of "Yakumi" The star of Somen is the Yakumi (condiments). In addition to green onions and ginger, we use Myoga (Japanese ginger) and Shiso (perilla leaves). Have you ever tried Myoga? Myoga and Shiso are like the herbs of Japanese cuisine (similar to shallots or basil in Western cooking). We highly recommend chopping them up and adding plenty to your dipping sauce. The refreshing aroma unique to Japanese herbs instantly brings a cooling sensation.

2. The Stamina Booster: Pork & Sesame Sauce The second recommendation is for fighting summer fatigue. Top your cold Somen with boiled, chilled thinly sliced pork (Rei-shabu) and pour a rich sesame dressing over it.

3. The Western Twist: Tomato & Olive Oil Finally, for our Western friends, we highly recommend an olive oil arrangement. You might wonder if olive oil goes well with Somen, but it is actually a fantastic match! Mix diced fresh tomatoes with the Somen and drizzle with high-quality olive oil. It is as refreshing as a cold pasta and pairs perfectly with a glass of white wine.

We tend to lose our appetite during this lingering heat, but eating well is the first step to building the stamina you need to survive it!