The weather is starting to cool off. Soon harvest will be over. No more golden rice paddies bursting at the seams. No more bent old women working the fields by hand. No more weathered old men scooting in and out of town in their little Tonka trucks. I love autumn scenery.

One of the more peculiar autumn customs in Japan is when city crews across the country begin cutting the limbs off of trees. Rather than deal with autumn colours and falling leaves, they just scrap the entire limb from where it meets the trunk. Most of the trees lining the streets stand naked as a toothpick all winter. In summer they sprout these pathetic shoots in a fickle attempt to stay alive.

Another strange custom is the fact that there is a specific day when autumn starts. It can still be plus 35 outside, but if it is past the day when autumn started, most people don’t dare remove their sweater. The air conditioners get turned off, too. If Nancy and I wear a T-shirt to work, people ask if we’re cold. “Not really. Are you hot? You’re sweating.”

I’ll get some pictures of those trees soon. Then you can see what I’m talking about.