Mr. Inafuku told me before , “Okinawa has its own words to express seasons. There is a seasonal rhythm the wind conveys.” For instance, a wind called ‘minishi’[me-kne-she]. If that is translated to Japanese it is ‘new, northern wind’. This northern wind that blows every year at the end of October is a seasonal wind that alerts of summer’s end.

In February of the lunar calendar, during the period when the season changes from winter to spring, a spring storm winds up. The winds that turn like a windmill from north to south are called ‘ningachikajimai’ [neen-gah-chee-kah-gee-my] in Okinawa. The seasons go around and for a while after rainy season ends, a refreshing southern wind continues to blow. This wind is called ‘kachibe’ [kah-chee-bay]. It is the southern wind of summer solstice. There is a cliché in Okinawan language called ‘fe nu kajigwa fuchi, ki shicha uti, i anbe’. ‘fue nu kaji’ [feh-noo-kah-gee] is southern wind. ‘Around until September during the hot season, when the southern wind blows, relaxing under tree shade feels good.’

‘Mafukkwa fuka uti waja naran. Ki nu shicha uti, ninju jemashi.’ These words are whispered the hottest days during summer. The intense heat from July to September is ‘mafukkwa’ [mah-foo-kwah] and the phrase is ‘It is better to take a few hours off during lunchtime, because work cannot be done on such a hot day.’ However, that is not because Okinawans are lazy. Actually, before electricity became widespread, if they rested plenty during the afternoon, they worked until full darkness falls after sunset. Wisdoms for everyday life are born from a life close to nature. Remnants of that period has been handed down to this place even after the era has passed.