features

5 facts about the special significance of cicadas in Japan

13 Comments
By Philip Kendall

Coming from the UK where the largest insect you’re likely to encounter is a slightly overweight bumblebee, I was quite taken aback the first time I saw a "semi," or cicada in English, in Japan. Having arrived in the middle of summer, at first the ear-piercing racket coming from the tree outside my window drove me to distraction, but over the years I came to enjoy the sound these little bugs made, even if their appearance still gives me the creeps.

As it happens, I’m not the only one who appreciates these little bugs’ songs. Cicadas hold special significance here in Japan, and are considered to be almost synonymous with summer, so join us after the jump for five quick-fire facts about Japan’s summer bug.

1. “The sound of summer”

Even with the intense heat and humidity of the rainy season in June and July, it is not until the cicadas start chirping that people consider summer to have truly arrived. Cicadas are so associated with summer that it’s rare to see a summer scene in a Japanese TV show or anime that doesn’t feature the sound of them chirping in the background, and even video games like Nintendo’s "Animal Crossing" series include their song during the virtual summer months.

As those who live in Japan or countries where cicadas can be found in the wild will know, however, cicadas can be noisy as hell. While they’re not quite as irritating as they are portrayed in popular anime "Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san."

If there happen to be a few of them clinging to a tree outside your apartment or office, the noise can be almost deafening. (Fun bonus fact: the reason cicadas don’t annoy themselves or go deaf while calling is because they can “switch off” their hearing.)

2. Cicadas even show up in classical Japanese literature

In Murasaki Shikibu’s "The Tale of Genji," one of the first women to ever resist the titular protagonist is known as 空蝉 (Utsusemi or “empty cicada”, or more slightly more elegantly, “The Lady of the Locust Shell”). In the book, Genji attempts to surprise Utsusemi in her chambers, but after his plan is foiled he finds only one of the robes she casts off to evade him. He later sits down to write a poem about Utsusemi, describing her “cicada shell” robe.

3. Cicada hunting is still a super popular summer pastime for kids

Bug catching remains a popular hobby in Japan, and it’s not uncommon to see little kids carrying giant nets and with bug boxes hanging from their necks in local parks. Cicadas are one of the few big bugs that can’t be bought at pet shops or supermarkets, and little kids enjoy the challenge of catching bugs that can “go off” at any time.

4. Cicadas’ songs are very different depending on the species

There are some 30 different types of cicada in Japan, and each one’s song sounds that little bit different to the last. The cicada song most often used in TV and anime, though, has to be that of the “minmin-zemi."

5. “Semi Bakudan” are genuinely scary things

The only thing worse than stepping on an empty husk or a dead cicada in the street is walking by one that looks dead but suddenly twitches to life and starts skittering across the pavement making an almighty racket. These 蝉爆弾 ("semi bakudan," or “cicada bomb”) become an all-too-common sight around this time of year, with everyone from grown men to tiny dogs out for a walk being startled by a cicada bomb at some point during the summer.

Love them or hate them, cicadas have a very special significance here in Japan, and summer wouldn’t be the same without them.

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Molted Insect Skins Are so in This Summer: Japanese Entertainer Shokotan Sports Exotic Headwear -- The 10 best places in Japan for autumn leaves -- Summer in China means crazy-crowded pools, which somehow mean fun for some easy-going swimmers

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


13 Comments
Login to comment

Cicada hunting is still a super popular summer pastime for kids

...and I always thought they were hunting for "kabuto-mushi" !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

5. “Semi Bakudan” are genuinely scary things -- you got that right!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cicadas: They're the main reason I'm a little reluctant to fly out to Japan in a hurry, even more so than the heat. Even just hearing them in anime really grinds my gears. Now I hear about Semi Bakudan as well. I'm all too easily startled as it is, I could do without squealing like a prepubescent girl in the middle of Tokyo, or whatever.

Coming from the UK where the largest insect you’re likely to encounter is a slightly overweight bumblebee

Tell that to the Hobo Spiders that I've seen eating said Bumblebees. Oh wait, insect. Never mind then. That said, I think I'd rather face a Semi Bakudan than a Hobo Spider. At least the former doesn't bite. They don't, do they?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

There was one on the ground by my foot as I sat on the train last night. I was just waiting for it to bomb me; however, being out in the open on a crowded train, it was probably staying quiet to avoid predators.

A young guy who walked on the train just grinned at the sight of the cicada and picked it up. He took it off the train and it flew away.

I thought "Why didn't I do that earlier?"

:)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They're part of nature. Noisy, but not annoyingly so - it's the sound of summer, and it's quite poignant to reflect on the fact that after spending 7 years underground, they have just one brief summer in which to enjoy themselves.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Believe it or not, some people actually love these creatures ! I do for one ! I told my son to record their "songs" and to place the recording next to my tomb when I go... Maybe that's because I love summer !

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I like them

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I really hate these bugs noise, never like them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hunting kabuto mushi is best at night, during the day kids are usually after tombo, especially oni-yama, big suckers but don't let them bit you as they easily draw blood! Oh and lots kinds of bata(grasshoppers)!

I say leave the semi alone they only get to fly around for about 2weeks, let them have at it I say!

I live in the sticks & like the sound, its more spread out then in cities where they tend to concentrate where the large trees provide perfect habitat for their long years underground hence so many of them in urban environments

3 ( +3 / -0 )

5. "Semi Bakudan" are genuinely scary things

Couple summers ago I left for an early morning walk. Still dark. A cicada came flying my apt. I promptly forgot about it. Then an hour later when I came home, right after I walked in the bomb went off. I don't think any of my neighbors were asleep after I screamed. (or cussed).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Disgusting insects!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Better thank those disgusting insects for a lot of the veggies & fruit etc we eat, without we would be in serious trouble!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites