Ame for Every Occasion
Issue Date
2005-11-09Author
Hacker, Randi
Tsutsui, William
Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
Type
Recording, oral
Is part of series
Postcards from Asia;0006
Published Version
https://audioboom.com/posts/759885-0006-ame-for-every-occasionMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Broadcast Transcript: Legend has it that the Arctic Inuit have hundreds of ways to say "snow." Linguists now tell us that this is just another urban myth. It's a fact, however, that the Japanese have hundreds of words for "rain." Among them konuka ame, literally rice bran rain, a light drizzle that barely gets you wet and namida ame, "tears rain", a gentle shower more depressing emotionally than significant meteorologically. Ecologist Kenneth Wilkening says that Japan is a veritable culture of rain. The islands are dependent on abundant rainfall for paddy field rice farming. What's more, traditional Japanese society elevated the humble umbrella to an art form and produced a rich poetry of precipitation. Richer than "Rain, rain, go away," that's for sure. #ceas #japan #tsutsui #hacker
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
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