Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

While we are already in the early days of autumn here in Japan, the heat is relentlessly dragging me down whenever I step outside to do daily chores. The air is heavy, the sun still bites, and what should feel like the refreshing start of a new season instead weighs on me like an invisible blanket.

When I mentioned this to my wife, she smiled knowingly and said, “That’s natsubate.”

What is Natsubate?

Natsubate (夏バテ) is a Japanese word that literally translates to “summer fatigue” or “being worn out by summer.” It describes that lingering sense of exhaustion that stays with you even after the peak of summer has passed. In many ways, it’s not just about the weather—it’s about how our bodies and minds react to weeks of relentless heat and humidity.

Why It Happens

During Japan’s long summers, the body works overtime just to stay cool. Appetite drops, sleep suffers, and the sudden contrast between air-conditioned rooms and sweltering streets only adds to the strain. By the time early autumn arrives, many people feel drained rather than refreshed, as if summer has taken more energy than it gave. That’s natsubate.

More Than Just Tiredness

What I find interesting about this word is that it captures a very specific seasonal feeling. It’s not simply “being tired.” It’s a cultural recognition that the climate leaves its mark, and that mark is shared by everyone who has lived through a Japanese summer.

Living With the Season

So as I push through the heat to get groceries or run small errands, I remind myself: this too is part of the rhythm of life in Japan. Just as spring brings the joy of blossoms and autumn offers crisp air and fiery leaves, summer leaves us with natsubate—a reminder that even fatigue is part of the cycle.