VOX POPULI: Skies will clear and life will return to normal

I rubbed my sleepy eyes in disbelief when I looked out of my window early on April 17. I thought, "I've already done this year's cherry blossom viewing, haven't I?"

The previous days' cold snap had certainly been unseasonable, but I never expected to see snow fall in Tokyo after the cherry trees had blossomed. The last time snow was observed in the capital so late in spring was 1969.

Nature's fickleness is no joke. It's one thing to get a big surprise at the start of the day, but it's a different matter altogether when freak weather pushes vegetable prices sky-high and creates piles of unsold spring consumer goods. This is not good for the economy, and it hurts our pocketbooks, too.

Nature's tantrums can disrupt our daily routines and wreak havoc on air traffic.

The volcanic eruption that started April 14 in Iceland led to a freeze on many flights across Europe. With a huge cloud of volcanic ash rising to an altitude of up to 10,000 meters, jet engines were at risk of stalling. Airports were closed in more than 20 countries, stranding passengers booked on flights over Europe, including those originating in or destined for Japan.

According to reports, as many as 16,000 flights were canceled in one day. I thought of lost business opportunities and disappointed travelers whose holiday plans were ruined.

Lingering volcanic ash in the atmosphere can block the sun rays and lower temperatures. In the late 18th century, a massive volcanic eruption in Iceland was said to have triggered a famine in Europe that eventually contributed to unrest that led to the French Revolution. This goes to show that a freak of nature can alter the course of history.

In "Journey to the Center of the Earth" by the pioneering science fiction writer Jules Verne (1828-1905), the protagonists climb down the crater of a volcano in Iceland. They roam the subterranean world until they are ejected from an active volcano on an island in the Mediterranean.

The volcanic ash blanketing Europe offers an acute reminder that the skies are very much an integral part of our planet.

This spring will be remembered for its unseasonable snow and volcanic ash, which had nothing to do with the season. One of the characters in Verne's story tells his companions not to think of trying to explain their experience because it's so much simpler (not to try).

It's a sad thought, but there is really no point in trying to logically explain natural phenomena that seem to defy understanding. Warm weather will eventually return, and the volcanic ash will clear in due course.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 18

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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.