Beautiful Japanese Word of the Day #24
There are countless beautiful words in the Japanese language describing the beauty of seasons and nature. Through this series, we hope to share some of that with more people who are studying the Japanese language. Today's word is...
春一番 [Haru Ichiban]
"Haru Ichiban refers to a warm strong wind that blows from southwest to northeast of Japan"
春 [Haru] is spring in Japanese
一番 [Ichiban] means number one or first in Japanese
Because it is the "first" warm wind that blows into Japan, people call it the first spring wind. After Haru Ichiban, the temperature rises across Japan and it is known to be an indicator that spring is just around the corner.
Writer's note: It's almost the season for cherry blossoms, and although they are the symbol of spring in Japan, Haru Ichiban is the first sign of spring. I've been able to appreciate the warm weather these days after the cold winter, and I'm excited for my second spring in Japan.