The beauty of Japanese rain chains
Posted by Yuki Momoyama on 15th May 2021
It is mid-May. The rainy season is about to start in Japan, and gorgeous hydrangeas and wisterias are everywhere. Beautiful rain chains, an unmistakable sight in Japan, collect water from the downspouts of homes, temples, and shrines and gently guide it to the ground.
Japanese rain chains are functional and beautiful and a lovely way to prettify any home. The water drops make a sooting sound as they meander their way down the chain. They elegantly transform dull and gloomy wetness into something lovely.
All your feels, in a poem
The Japanese have a special reverence for the spring rain. They call it Harusame. Here is timeless haiku by Kobayashi Issa (1763 – 1828).
Spring rain
A little girl teaches a cat
To dance
(Harusame ya - neko ni odori wo - oshieru ko)