"Shousho"
The rainy season is almost over.
It's getting hotter by the day.

- How about I pour some water on your head?
- Wow, it's cold!

- It feels so good!
- It's like I'm watering a Buddha statue.

That looks refreshing!
I can only do this to you and the head nun!

See you later.

Going somewhere?

Do you want to know where?

Here's a hint.
A fairy tale princess lives there.

The sun is shining. It's pretty.
These bamboo trees are so tall.

People hang their wishes on bamboo
for the "tanabata" star festival.

So, we need to pick bamboo shoots
that can reach the stars.

- This high?
- Don't be scared. Go slow.

- It's easy to saw, don't you think?
- Yes, it takes no time.

That was easy.

I'm like the old bamboo cutter
in the folk tale.

We're back!

Be careful with the bamboo.

Welcome home.

- They're big.
- Let's stand them up. They're cute.

- These are like parent and child.
- The bigger the better.

We've always used palm leaves to hang
ornaments and "tanzaku" paper wishes.

We tear the leaves and tie them.

- You make a knot.
- I see.

Use "shuro" palm leaves
to hang ornaments

Let's make a special meal.
We'll use "somen" noodles.

They're blooming!

So pretty.

"Somen" noodle bouquet

Let's roll these up.

You can cut and spread the noodles out
after boiling them.

- More?
- That's enough.

"Somen" noodle roll with
deep-fried tofu and nori seaweed

Make it round. Like the earth.

Let's write our wishes on "tanzaku!"

You're drawing your face.
I'll wish for everyone's health.

I'll just put my name.

I should've wished for lots of visitors.

- You didn't?
- I just made a wish for myself!

I want to be good
at origami. Jito

Pass me the sea bream ornament.

I want to be good at drawing.　
Matchan

I wish good health for
everyone. Mitsuei

"Taisho"
Hottest time of
the year.

A summer scene
in the village:
"Hyottoko" dance

Meanwhile, back
at the temple in Nara...

"Doyo-boshi"
(summer airing)

When you get 3 or 4 hot days in a row,
it's time to air out the "ume" plums.

We've been doing this since morning.

- Try one.
- It's sour!

- It kills germs and is good for your health.
- My eyes are getting bleary.

- Hi Junko! It's hot, isn't it?
- It sure is... What's going on?

- Do you want some sodium?
- The "ume" plums are pretty.

- We're doing the summer airing.
- I see. You're doing a good job.

- How about you, Junko?
- I've done it already.

I've brought some vegetables.

Bitter melons and "manganji" peppers.

I have another treat on my back.

- That looks heavy.
- The first watermelon of the season.

- I got a good workout carrying it.
- I love watermelon. Thank you!

Refreshing treats with mountain water.

Let's deep-fry and marinate
some summer vegetables.

With the "manganji" peppers,
all you have to do is make a small cut.

Poke little holes in the tomatoes.

This round eggplant is
grown locally.

Soak deep-fried vegetables
in noodle-dipping sauce.

The colors are so vivid!

- They look delicious.
- So pretty!

They're like a set of
colored pencils.

Deep-fried and marinated
summer vegetables

The watermelon is so cool.
Please have a slice.

- Everyone gets the tasty part.
- I'll have this one.

It didn't go far at all.

See?!

- It flew pretty far.
- I'm going to beat you!