涼 ryo
The character ryo (涼) consists of two elements. The left side of the character represents water, and the right side represents a house on a high hill. It is used mainly to mean “cool,” from the idea of water that is refreshingly cool like the breezes at a well-aired elevation.
Over the years the Japanese have come up with a variety of simple ways to find cooling relief during the hot and humid days of summer, such as with paper fans, both rigid and folding, and servings of shaved ice with syrup, as well as by sprinkling water to cool off the ground in front of their homes and shops. Nowadays, of course, people rely heavily on air conditioners to keep them cool. Thanks to ongoing technological advances, Japan’s air conditioners are among the world’s most energy-efficient. And new technologies continue to emerge and spread, including equipment that sprays “dry mist” to cool the air. Meanwhile, increasing use is being made of eco-friendly approaches to keeping the temperature inside buildings down, such as by growing “green curtains” of vines on the sides of buildings and planting greenery on rooftops.
Japanese people consider it “cool” to enjoy the heat in style. Wouldn’t it be cool to come to Japan and experience this summertime savvy for yourself?