Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Traditional things are coming back into our lives to beat the blistering heat in eastern Japan.

A few days ago, it was announced that the rainy season was over in eastern Japan and a blistering summer started much earlier than usual. Since power plants in eastern Japan were seriously damaged by the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami, major companies there are officially required to reduce electricity consumption by 15% and others including households are strongly advised to cut back to avert a massive blackout due to over capacity. To beat the blistering heat without relying on air conditioning, traditional things are being brought back into our lives. For example, I feel like the sound of Japanese wind chimes "Furin/風鈴”is heard more than last year (When we hear the sound, we feel cool, although I don't know how non-Japanese feel. Please see the YouTube videos and tell me how you feel). In my condo, a lot more windows have reed screens to block strong sunshine. It's reported that mosquito nets have been selling so well that there is a production bottleneck. Our traditional folding hand fans "Sensu /扇子" have been having good sales, as well. These things were necessary to beat the heat when air conditioning wasn't popular. 

Other than that, sutetekos/ステテコ, a sort of Japanese traditional underwear, have been drawing considerable attention. They were worn over underpants and under trousers. They'd relax in sutetekos and a sort of t-shirt, since the style was the best to beat the heat when air conditioning wasn't common in homes. However, with the popularity of air conditioning, wearing a suteteko in itself came to be viewed to be unfashionable, mainly by younger generations. Sutetekos became less popular.

However, in response to the requirement of cutting electricity consumption, fashionable sutetekos have been going on sale and are being offered as comfortable, casual pants for men, women and children. It's been said that basically, decent sutetekos are made from breathable and absorbent fabric to adjust to the hot and humid summer in Japan, so they don't stick to the skin. To test how comfortable they are, I bought one to try. Nothing makes me feel more comfortable and cool than sutetekos made from traditional fabric. Unfortunately, cheap ones made of other fabrics are not good.