VOX POPULI: Fickle April seems afraid to make way for May

"Wind in March, rain in April" is an old adage that describes fickle spring weather. Across the world, the spring climate is ever changeable. The phenomenon is common across mid-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere, according to experts.

When warm and cold air clash, wind and rain results. "April, April doesn't know what to do with itself" goes a children's song in Germany, meteorologist Atsushi Kurashima wrote in his book. This April in particular seems to be at a loss as to what to do with itself, stirring images of youth at an awkward age.

Like adolescent boys and girls yet to leave their childhood behind but hesitating to open the door to adulthood, April is pacing back and forth and cannot easily push through to spring. It cracks the door ajar, hesitates to cross the threshold and then runs back to hide in the season just passed. Perhaps it is a little shy. Still, no one can give a supportive push to hesitant April.

Wednesday brought wind and snow to northern Japan. Across the nation, there were fewer hours of sunshine. Cold temperatures hit areas where spring vegetables are produced. In Tokyo, cabbages and negi (green onions) are nearly twice as expensive as they were last year. The price of such staple vegetables as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, green peppers, lettuce and spinach have also risen.

According to Tokyo Gas Co., gas consumption this April is 3.5 percent higher than was projected based on consumption in an average year, apparently because of colder weather that led to more heating of icy bath and tap water. "Spring fireplace/ Warms rainy cold" is a haiku by Tomiko Nagamori. According to forecasts, low temperatures are likely to continue until Saturday.

Returning back to the first-mentioned phrase, there is a British saying that goes: "March winds and April showers bring May flowers."

To open the door to the next season, it's time for some gentle rains to moisten the mountains and fields and help trees shoot out their buds.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 15

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.