Cicada

        I’m going to roll over, 
so please move, 
        cricket. 
–Issa

One of the harbingers of summer in Japan is the common cicada or ‘semi’ in Japanese. Arguably worse than the stifling humidity and blazing heat, this little critter emerges from the earth to start its deafening song just after the rainy season has finished. Like the fleeting cherry blossom in spring, the cicada is a symbol of evanescence due to its short lifespan.

There are over 30 different species of cicada in Japan and they can be found everywhere, singing their songs in the summer, even in downtown areas of large cities like Tokyo or Osaka.

Insects are collected as pets. Nothing in nature is too small to be unworthy of respect, deserving of attention.