Lights at night

For weeks now, the medium term weather forecast for my region is, without fail, day after day of lightning storms. I would like to say right now, that I have not seen so much as a spark since arriving here. The weather is warm, humid and occasionally cloud free. Today was one such day, and my sunburnt skin is testament to that.

I have searched for better weather forecasts, looked for other users with this same issue online, I have asked the people here if they’re having the same forecast problems and I have gotten nowhere. It’s reached the point where I no longer consult my online weather app anymore.


At the time of writing this I am on my balcony, quietly stealing a trusting neighbour’s unprotected WiFi. Cicadas are chirping away (along with a bevy of other insects that I couldn’t identify if I tried), but other than that the night is as still and silent as it gets here in summer. Intermittent glimpses of headlights from cars passing on the nearby National Route 7 peep over the houses between the red bulbs which identify the radio towers and the glow from a full moon. Light pollution here is incredibly low, with only the odd, dim streetlight unsuccessfully trying to drown out the stars. Maybe it’s because everything else is so dark, but the headlights repeatedly distract me from my computer screen.

They distract me just enough to make me stop for a moment, and wait for the next car.

But there is no car. Just flash after flash of lightning. Arcing between what seem to be the only two clouds in the whole night sky, forks of electricity glow different colours. One at the front strikes a brilliant yellow across the darkness. One further back paints the whole cloud orange.

A lightning storm, so far away that I can’t hear a thing, that I barely notice it. I’m feeling metaphorical tonight, and I start thinking about Ireland. And Canada. And South Africa. Far away right now, and so easily could go unnoticed. I’m here now, and it doesn’t do me an awful lot of good to dwell on what I’ve left behind or what I haven’t. But the flashes of light filling the sky still put on quite a show, even though they’re too far for the sound to travel.

A lightning storm.

Much closer to home, a firework momentarily lights the sky. It’s the Obon here at the moment, the summer festival. It’s very similar in concept to the origins of Halloween, where spirits of the dead come back to earth for a visit. I saw a huge fireworks display take place over the river last week, I’ve been to the ordaining of a monk where I’ve been treated like family, I’ve been swimming at sunset, I’ve ran through rice fields and I’ve met more people than I could possibly remember, even if their names weren’t all Japanese... A lot has been happening here. Another colourful firework crackles and spreads colour up into the air.

The lightning has passed now, but I’m still thinking about it.

A lightning storm. I open up my weather app once more. The forecast adamantly predicts a solid five days of lightning. Maybe I’ll keep an eye out.