ORIFUSI オリフシ 春夏秋冬

Japan's splendid topography and rich nature

Japan has four distinct seasons.
People feel the beauty of the changing seasons.

Let's take a look at the history of Japan's four seasons that move people's hearts.

spring, summer, autumn, winter

It is the climate and plants that make you feel the four distinct seasons of Japan.

Why are there so many plants in Japan that make us feel the four seasons?

rainy season

In an environment where a wide variety of plants grow, the relationship between wind and rain is important.
The rainy season
plays an important role in realizing Japan's four seasons.

First of all, Japan is a country with a lot of rain throughout the year.

ORIFUSI World Precipitation
Figure: "Osaka Kyoiku University Physical Geography II" material

You can see that the amount of rainfall is very high compared to other countries on the same latitude as Japan.
The amount of rainfall during the rainy season is more than seven times that of the arid regions located at the same latitude.

The origin of the rainy season is related to the rotation of the earth and the wind caused by it.

Because the earth rotates, westerly winds blow around the earth from west to east.

The westerly winds that pass through Japan do not come from the same latitude as they are.

The "wind" including the westerly wind passes through areas with large temperature differences.

ORIFUSI How the rainy season works Winter

During the winter, the Himalayas and Tibet are cold, so the temperature difference with the Indian subcontinent to the south increases, and westerly winds pass through the Himalayas and Tibet to the south.

ORIFUSI How the rainy season worksSummer

As summer approaches, the dry Tibetan plateau heats up and westerly winds move northward into the Himalayas and Tibet.

However, it is not possible to move smoothly from the south side to the north side, and because it moves while being blocked by the high Himalayas, the westerly wind blows temporarily in both the south side and the north side of the Himalayas and Tibet. .

The westerly wind that passes south of the Himalayas and Tibet causes water vapor in the Indian Ocean to rise as summer approaches, and the westerly wind contains water vapor.
Then it passes through the Pacific Ocean, contains more water vapor, forms large rain clouds, and reaches Japan.

At that time, in Japan, the westerly wind that passed through the Sea of ​​Okhotsk from the north collided with the westerly wind that passed from the south. I'm here.


Japan rich in nature

Japan is filled with water due to the rainy season.
A wide variety of plants need the power to distribute the water to the land.

About 70% of Japan's land area is covered by forests.
This percentage ranks third among developed countries (OECD).

ORIFUSI Percentage of forest
Graph: Data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

It is also known that despite the country's small land area, the number of tree species is diverse.

The reason for this lies in the Ice Age hundreds of years ago.

During the Ice Age, North America and Europe were covered by thick glaciers and were severely arid.

Forests have declined dramatically, and many species of deciduous trees, which require water and heat, are said to have become extinct.

However, because Japan is sandwiched between the sea and mountains, and has steep and complex topography, it is thought that even during the Ice Age, the forests were able to secure water and temperatures that would allow them to survive.

For this reason, it is thought that conifers that are relatively resistant to dryness and cold survived surrounding the Japanese archipelago, and that deciduous trees were able to grow as they were protected inside.

Japan is a combination of these various histories and conditions, and in a miraculous balance, a wide variety of plants grow and create four seasons that impress people.

Surrounded by plants and coexisting with nature, Japan has a lot of wisdom and manners that make use of the blessings of nature.


Body Fuji

ORIFUSI

This word is a way of thinking that has been derived from Buddhism since ancient times in Japan.
“A man’s body and his native land are inseparable.”
There is a meaning.

For people who live or were born and raised in Japan, the blessings of Japan's land and nature are inseparable.

lastly

The climate and nature unique to Japan, which has a wonderful history, continue to support us even now.

“ORIFUSI” expresses gratitude for the blessings of Japan’s nature, passes on the splendor of Japan’s history, and is designed to help people living in the present to maintain their beauty as they age. We will continue to support you to keep it healthy.

Thank you for reading to the end.
Please take a look at the other pages as well.

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