Miles from Home

Autumn is fast approaching, as I write this during an on-again-off-again thunderstorm, and I wanted to tell you all about Japan and its little autumn quirk. If you’re Japanese or familiar with the language at all, you know that we tend to say ○○の秋 (maru-maru no aki) which translates to Autumn of ______ where the blank is usually filled with words like appetite, reading, sports, and more.

This declaration of autumn for such activities doesn’t have a clear start. But, there are theories that states that it most likely started because autumn in Japan is a lovely season, where the average temperature is around 18 degrees Celsius or 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is not-too-cold and not-too-warm and is the perfect temperature to set your mind to something, or so the Japanese public believes.

Autumn of Appetite

The most popular of the Autumn of _____ is appetite. There is no wonder to the truth, when you consider that there are so many seasonal delicacies available all over Japan at this time. Some of the common autumn foods are chestnuts, pears, pacific saury, sweet potato, grapes, persimmons, matsutake mushrooms, rice, and more.

Kuri Gohan (Chestnut Rice)

My personal favorite that I tend to miss during this time of year is Kuri Gohan. Kuri Gohan is a traditional Japanese dish that translates directly to “chestnut rice.” It’s a warm and comforting bowl of rice cooked with chestnuts. The chestnuts add a delightful sweetness and slightly nutty flavor to the rice, making it a popular autumn dish and something I miss from home. I like it topped with a sprinkle of salt and black sesame seeds for a salty contrast to the sweetness.

Grilled Sanma (Pacific Saury)

The other seasonal delicacy that I miss dearly is grilled Sanma. Then again, I miss grilled fish in general. Sanma is a type of fish that’s highly sought after, especially during the autumn season. In English, it is often referred to as Pacific saury.

The most common way to have Sanma is by grilling it. It is simply grilled over charcoal until the skin is crispy and the flesh is tender. Sanma are most flavorful in autumn, with a slightly oily and rich flavor akin to a mackerel. My mouth is watering just writing about it. In the recent years, the price for Sanma has sky rocketed, making this autumn staple of a fish an absolute delicacy.

Autumn of Reading

Next to Autumn of Appetite, in popularity, is the Autumn of Reading. The origin for this autumn activity is theorized to be connected to a poem by a prominent Chinese poet and essayist during the Tang Dynasty by the name of Han Yu. He wrote a line, “one can finally become intimate with lamplight.” This seemingly straightforward line with no hint to autumn carries a richer meaning of being “intimate with lamplight.” It suggests cooler weather allowing more time spent indoors, specifically in scholarly pursuits.

In Japan, many still buys into the image that this poem has created for the ideal autumn activity with many setting up reading goals for the autumn season. It appears that the most read genre of books in Japan is light novels and essays followed by fiction and manga. Below is the 10 must-read Japanese books translated into English, courtesy of cotoclub.com.

• “Norwegian Wood” – Haruki Murakami
• “Convenience Store Woman” – Sayaka Murata
• “Breast and Eggs” – Meiko Kawakami
• “Strange Weather in Tokyo” – Hiromi Kawakami
• “Kafka on The Shore” – Haruki Murakami
• “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
• “How Do You Live?” – Genzaburo Yoshino
• “Goodbye Tsugumi” – Banana Yoshimoto
• “Where The Wild Ladies Are” – Matsuda Aoko
• “There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job” – Kikuko Tsumura

My personal favorite didn’t make it on this list, but I’ll share it with you. It’s “I Want to Eat Your Pancreas” by Yoru Sumino. If you have a personal favorite, please let me know in the comments below!

Autumn of Sports

Last in what I will share with you in this post is Autumn of Sports. This activity has been deemed an autumn activity, not only because the temperature is fantastic in Japan, but because of Olympics. The first Tokyo Olympics left a lasting impression on the general Japanese public about autumn being the time for sports. The 1964 Tokyo Olympics was held in October, since statistically, it’s when the weather is sunny and nice.

The most popular sports to start in autumn is walking, because you can take in the changing of the leaves and the scenery without it being too taxing on the body. The second is hiking or mountain climbing, for similar reasons and that mountains often closes over the winter. Personally, I’d have to join the autumn walking gang.

In the end

In Japan, autumn is more than just a season; it’s a time to embrace various activities that align with the cooler weather and cultural traditions. Known as ○○の秋 or Autumn of ___, this season is celebrated for its delicious seasonal foods like Kuri Gohan and grilled Sanma, its ideal weather for reading and setting literary goals, and its historical association with sports, thanks to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, why not embrace the spirit of Japan’s autumn traditions? Whether it’s trying your hand at cooking seasonal dishes, diving into a captivating book, or getting outdoors for some light exercise, there’s no better time to make the most of this beautiful season. Share your favorite autumn activities in the comments below, and let’s celebrate this special time of year together!