2025/03/08 [Sat]
Hello everyone! It’s been a while—how have you all been? Are you making sure to stay healthy and avoid catching a cold?
Lately, whenever I’ve been out shopping or visiting the mall, I’ve noticed many people sniffling and coughing. It seems like a seasonal cold is going around. If you’ve managed to stay healthy, consider yourself lucky! Alternatively, it could be due to pollen allergies, which also cause trouble for many people this time of year.
Do you have a pollen allergy? Back in the U.S., I used to suffer from frustrating allergic reactions to pollen. However, ever since moving to Japan, I’ve been surprisingly unaffected during pollen season—maybe it’s a different type of pollen? I’m not sure, but I’m definitely grateful for the relief.
The weather this year has been all over the place! One week we experience freezing temperatures as low as 0°C, and the next week, it soars to highs of 20°C with lows of 10°C. It’s been quite unpredictable. Recently, after a spell of warm weather, the temperature suddenly dropped to -3°C, and we even experienced snowfall.
This past Tuesday brought enough snow to build a snowman, and we didn’t waste the opportunity!
One of our guests eagerly started constructing a snowman as soon as the snow began to accumulate. Did you know that Western and Japanese snowmen differ? Western snowmen have three sections—lower body, upper body, and head—while Japanese snowmen are typically made with just two: the body and the head.
We decided to build a Western-style snowman. We added a carrot for its nose and a stylish hat, but we realized it needed arms. For a humorous twist, we gave it toy guns for arms, emphasizing its Western character. The result was a hit! Many guests took photos with our snowman, and its popularity made the effort worthwhile.
The snow was so heavy that my car ended up partially covered—a sight I haven’t seen since last winter in Niseko. Thankfully, I had my trusty snow remover in the car, which saved me from getting soaked while clearing the snow. After a chilly drive home, I felt fortunate to have been prepared.
By the next day, most of the snow had melted. Our snowman friend began to shrink but held on overnight thanks to the lingering cold. By Thursday, however, it was mostly gone, reduced to a small pile of dirt and ice.
The brief snowfall was a delightful experience. I think it’s the ideal way to enjoy winter—snow for a day to play and admire, followed by quick melting to avoid prolonged inconveniences. Here in Gunma, few people have winter tires, which may have led to some accidents. I hope everyone stayed safe!
This reminded me of a time in Oita when a sudden, unexpected snowfall caught everyone off guard. I only had all-season tires at the time and drove cautiously after seeing numerous accidents. It was a tense experience, but I made it to my destination safely.
Did you witness the snowfall? Were you able to enjoy it?
