2022.06.27
梅雨(plum rain) – “tsu yu”
This two-character word means “the rain that falls when plums ripen”.
In this rainy season, we harvest the green ume plums.
While many relate plums with the red, sour pickles called umeboshi,
umeshu (plum liqueur) has also a time-honored tradition of preparation and enjoyment.
SAMU held our annual umeshu-making event during semester break, near the rainy season’s end.
All students started off listening intently to the liqueur-making instructions. After tasting the plum liqueur from last year, their faces lit up with expressions ranging from bitter scowls to sparkling smiles.
As students worked together in groups, communication sparked between students who normally share little interaction. It touched us to see the joy on the faces of students who had been underage last year and were finally able to participate. Everyone seemed to have had a good time and went on their way home looking forward for their newly prepared plum liqueur to mature and age.
SAMU Language School Faculty and Staff
