Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of The Asahi Shimbun.
June 10, 2020 at 13:49 JST
People wearing masks walk with parasols in their hands in Tokyo on June 9 as the mercury hits 31 degrees. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Hot coffee is always good, but I also enjoy it in summer. It sounds counterproductive, but an old saying calls for hot food or drink in hot weather.
It makes sense because you feel delightfully cool and refreshed after perspiring profusely from consuming something hot.
When the sun starts blazing and the mercury soars, there is a song I can’t resist humming to myself.
It’s “Atsusa no Sei” (Because of the heat) by singer-songwriter Eiichi Otaki (1948-2013).
The lyrics go like this: “The heat-besotted heart keeps floating in space/ The body is an empty shell/ Tottering and staggering.”
The words almost make me sweat even more, but for some reason they help me brace for summer's arrival.
The song goes on, “I’m strangely testy/ Everything irritates me ..../ I don’t feel refreshed at all.”
Paradoxically, the song never fails to refresh me, probably because of its dry, upbeat melody.
Being forced to live with COVID-19 this summer, we need to steel ourselves for the heat with greater resolve than ever.
We can’t do away with face masks. We need to open windows for ventilation, though we can’t live without air-conditioning.
The sun is already unrelenting, and the mercury registered a whopping 35-plus degrees in many parts of western Japan on June 9.
The health ministry is calling for vigilance against heatstroke, urging people to remove face masks outdoors so long as they maintain social distancing of 2 meters or more.
Come to think of it, there is no reason whatsoever to keep our faces covered when we are out walking alone.
The ministry’s instruction is probably proof that society at large is ever ready to pressure everyone into falling in line. The “eyes” of meddling strangers are as uncomfortable as muggy summer heat.
We can feel cool and refreshed by casting off peer pressure and removing the mask when it’s not necessary.
--The Asahi Shimbun, June 10
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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
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