Today, the 23rd of September marks the autumnal equinox in Japan or 彼岸の中日 ("higan no chu-nichi"). The Japanese mark this day of equal day and night as the first day of fall. Although, it's still rather balmy in Tokyo, there's a saying that 暑さ寒さも彼岸まで ("atsusa samusa mo Higan made,") which translates to "heat and cold last until Higan."


[The American School in Japan; 1. Ryan Healy]

The Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu, 1252) was once located inside of a temple. A great tidal wave crashed over the temple in the fifteenth century and washed everything away, but the Buddha remained intact.

[1. c. lynn]