Monsoons and Japanese life

In Japan the seasons are characterized by the progress of monsoons in summer and winter. Since ancient times Japanese life has closely been connected with the changes of the seasons, in other words, with the development of monsoons, especially with the winter monsoon, because it is more predominant and consistent than summer's, besides the difference of atmospheric stability brought by them. The relationship between Japanese life and monsoons has been remarkably variable all the more because the landforms of Japan are quite complicated. In the present paper some examples are introduced to make the relationship between them and, moreover, their changes in recent years clear, for instance, the distribution of windbreaks, the life in snowy regions and some traditional local industries, etc. On the whole the relationship mentioned above has been changing qualitatively or gradually been becoming more indistinct as urbanization or industrialization progresses. Despite these tendencies, however, Japanese life is still based on the progress of monsoons, as some examples, for instance climatic reliabilities caused by developments of monsoon, indicate clearly.