Today, the day after ‘Usui’ (Rainwater), the temperature exceeded 25°C in Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, reaching 25.4°C, and in Kamisatomimachi, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, it reached 25.1°C. This marks the first time this year that the temperature has exceeded 25°C in the Kanto region, making it the first summer day in Honshu as well. In a nearby park, bougainvillea is in full bloom. Speaking of ‘Usui,’ it is a period considered a prelude to the arrival of spring, as we pass the beginning of spring, and it is the time when snow turns to rain, melted snow and ice transform into water. It is also a suitable time for decorating hina dolls in preparation for the Doll Festival on March 3. There is a verse in a Hina Matsuri song that goes, ‘Let’s offer flowers, peach blossoms,’ but since peach blossoms bloom around the time cherry blossoms fall, plum blossoms are often used to decorate hina dolls. However, with the plum blossoms also finishing blooming due to this heat, cherry blossoms must be used instead. Many foreign tourists appearing on television are dressed in summer attire with short sleeves and shorts. The ‘Vernal Equinox,’ which marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, is still a month away, making it completely confusing to understand the seasonal sequence.

「雨水」の翌日の今日、群馬県伊勢崎市では25.4℃、群馬県高崎市上里見町で25.1℃と、関東で今年初めて25℃を超えて、本州でも初の夏日となりました。近くの公園ではブーゲンビリアが満開です。「雨水」と言えば、立春が過ぎ、本格的な春を迎える予備期間ともいえる頃で、降る雪は雨に変わり、積もった雪や張った氷は解け、水になっていく時期のことです。３月３日の雛祭りに備えて雛飾りをするのに適した日でもあります。ひな祭りの歌に「おはなをあげましょ、ももねはな」という一節がありますが、桃の花は桜の花が散る頃に咲きますから、お雛様には梅の花をよく飾ります。しかし梅もこの暑さで咲き終わり、桜が満開と言う所がありますから、梅ではなく桜を飾らねばなりません。テレビに出てくる外国人観光客も多くが半袖半ズボンの夏姿です。冬の終わりと春の訪れを分ける「春分」もまだ１ヶ月先ですから、全く季節の順序が分からなくなります。