A strong southern wind swept through Kamakura today. While western Japan has already officially declared the first spring wind, Kanto is still waiting. Yet the air already feels like spring.
In Kamakura, a strong southern wind was blowing, and my wife and I wondered if it might be the season’s first spring wind. News reports said that Kyushu and the Chugoku–Shikoku regions had already officially declared haru ichiban, the first spring gale of the year. Apparently, the designation depends on the meteorological observatory. When will it be Kanto’s turn?
If it blows again tomorrow, perhaps that will settle it.
Still, it is only February, and yet it already feels unmistakably warm. This mild air seems to have spread across the country. In northern regions, the rapid snowmelt must be causing its own difficulties.
More than the first spring wind, what concerns me is pollen. Cedar pollen is said to peak about a month from now. The thought is slightly depressing.
It was a warm holiday weekend.
A walk with Anne.
A bit of gardening.
A day that felt like borrowing time from a later season.
Or perhaps this is no borrowed warmth at all.
Perhaps late February has simply become this way.
