Explore everyday life in Japan
This is yuzu, an incredibly fragrant citrus fruit that is often used in Japan to make delicious jams, teas, sorbets, seasoned salts, soup seasonings, chocolates, etc.
Not only that, but on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, there is an old tradition here of putting fresh yuzu in the bath and soaking in water that has been infused with this fruit. It is thought that yuzu acts as a purifier, one that will help cleanse your body and conscience for the upcoming year. Additionally, it is also thought that yuzu warms the core temperature of your body during a time of year that is generally quite cold and by doing so helps ward off illness.
Preparing a yuzu bath is quite easy, assuming you can get your hands on fresh yuzu. Just poke some holes in one or two yuzu with a fork and throw them in the bathtub. To really unleash their fragrance peel them in the bath. Be careful not to use too many, though, or you may find your skin tingling in a warm and uncomfortable way. Believe me.
In my opinion, the fragrance and flavor of yuzu are an essential part of truly experiencing Japan.
If you find yourself traveling here, be sure to look for foods and drinks, and lotions and soaps that are made with yuzu. You may find yourself embarking on a new love affair.
So, how about you? Are there any peculiar customs that are practiced on the winter solstice in your country? Please let me know.
This is an ongoing series that will explore various aspects of daily life in Japan. My hope is that this series will not only reveal to its followers, image by image, what Japan looks like, but that it will also inform its followers about unique Japanese items and various cultural and societal practices. If you are interested in getting regular updates about life in Japan, please consider following me at @boxcarblue. If you have any questions about life in Japan, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.