One sound stands out unmistakably in a Japanese summer: that of the cicada. When you hear cicadas singing, you are struck by the sheer power of their sound. One can’t help wondering: how could something so small produce such an astonishing song? In Japanese, this sound is called semi-shigure (蝉時雨, せみしぐれ), literally “cicada shower.” With this simple expression, the sound takes shape, and midsummer becomes something you can even hear. Sometimes, when passing through the woods in a park, especially in the morning, the cicadas seem to sing with every ounce of strength they have. I used to wonder if they had simply slept well the night before and awakened full of energy, ready to sing with all their might. Only later did I learn that I had completely misunderstood their song.
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