Brownout

The Japanese government has appealed for people to save electricity. Some major power plants were destroyed by the tsunami, and this creates concerns about power shortages in Japan. The government, many shops and companies are already working on ways to save electricity. If you go to train stations, shops and offices, they are darker and warmer than usual for summer. I think that’s probably a good thing - it was too bright indoors before, and we were totally unconcerned about it power consumption.

There are some interesting items to feel cooler in summer on sale in the shops. They are nice but occasionally silly items: solar power fans, cool bed-mats, cool ties etc. If it’s hot why not just take off your tie?

I like Kakigori (crushed ice) with strawberry syrup; it makes you feel cooler. Other popular syrups are lemon, green tea, melon, ‘blue Hawaii’. It has a long history in Japan - during the Heian period (194-1185), only upper-class people were able to eat it with the sap of a sort of climbing plant. I’ve never tasted crushed ice in other countries, but there are wide variations like Patbingsu in Korea, Nam Kang Sai in Thailand, Piragua in Puerto Rico etc...

I have a snow cone maker, which only needs water (ice) and syrup. That’s my favourite summer item when I want to cool down.