夏の風物詩（natsu no fubutsushi) 3 --- Special Attractions of Summer

----暑中見舞い（しょちゅう　みまい、shochu mimai ）、
残暑見舞い（ざんしょ　みまい、zansho mimai )----

Japanese used to exchange cards in summer. “Shochu mimai” which means  'I hope you keep your health in this scurching heat'.is written until “Rsshu”(the first day of autumn according to the lunar calendar, Aug. 8 in 2012), and “Zansho mimai” which means, ' I hope you keep your health in this lingering summer heat.' after “Risshu” until “Shosho”( one of the 24 divisions of the four seasons, around August 23)

夏の風物詩（natsu no fubutsushi) 2 --- Special Attractionｓ of Summer

----盆踊り（ぼんおどり、bon odori)----

Bon-odori is a festive folk dance held in the evenings during summer or bon season (Aug.13-15).

The stage is set in an open space in a local community, and ゆかた（yukata）-clad men and women dance in a circle until late at night.

The original purpose was to welcome and console departed souls.

夏の風物詩（natsu no fubutsushi) 1 --- Special Attractionｓ of Summer

----夏の甲子園(natsu no koshien) ----

This is an annual nationwide high school baseball tournament at Hanshin Koshien stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo prefecture, with 49
schools which are regional champions of each of the prefectures of Japan ( two teams from Hokkaido and Tokyo).

Needless to say, Major-Leaguers松井秀喜（Matsui Hideki)

イチロー（鈴木一郎　suzuki ichiro)

ダルビッシュ(darubisshu)

made a spectacular showing in the game when they were high school students.

The final game of this year will be played over the national championship on the 23th in August.