Tsuyu

Looking up at the rain clouds, the heart feels blue.
Small creatures re-appear for their favorite season.
Paper crafts of a frog, and a snail come to life.

As the rainy season hits, the Japanese islands are completely drenched with rain, from the end of spring to the beginning of summer. The plum fruits begin to ripen.
This lingering, gloomy, humid season is called "Nyubai" or "Tsuyu" which means "Plum rain". The frogs in the rice field sing for joy, croaking endlessly as the raindrops fall.
The snails enjoy their leisurely crawl over the moist leaves of the hydrangea.
You can almost feel the warmth of the sun-scorched summer soon to be upon us.

This data was released in May, 1998.