From northern Yokohama,
Japan
Satsuki, the fifth month in the old Japanese lunar calender
(Submitted on May 9, 2012, updated on January 28, 2022.)
Carp-shaped streamers wishing for boys' healthy growth in Center Minami (south), northern Yokohama on May 4, 2018.
Satsuki, which corresponds to Gregorian May, means literally the month of planting rice. May in Japan is perhaps one of the most longed for months of the year: nice weather-- neither hot nor cold; the so-called “golden week “holiday season—in fact this year it will be a 9-day holiday for some from April 28 to May 6 due to the number of national holidays being coupled with two weekends plus two days leave if you can get them; and children’s day on May 5!
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From the perspective of taking landscape photos, I like May because it is the season that trees from winter without leaves will sprout fresh green leaves—ushering in a lively atmosphere for the countryside. I would like to show you some photos that I took in the same month from the last few years.
This photo was taken on May 2, 2010 in the Jike countryside. You can see that a farmer is plowing the field with a tractor in preparation for rice planting.
I visited the outskirts of Machida on May 3, 2010 and took this photo with an old farmhouse in the background.
This is the same place but taken from a different angle. I was struck by the beautiful azaleas.
Fresh green leaves contrasting to darker leaves in the background. This was taken at a temple in Narita on May 3, 2009.
I took this photo when I went to Motomachi, Yokohama on May 4, 2009. Roadside trees highlighted the holiday atmosphere during golden week.
This photo also shows the gradation of green leaves from light to dark color. It was taken on May 5, 2009 at Yakushiike park in Machida.
Wisteria flowers over a bridge in Tsuzuki ward. This photo is dated May 5, 2010.
