Shōsho (Lesser Heat)

Tanzaku with wishes written on at Tanabata. (© Pixta)

Sōmen with tsuyu, a dipping sauce, and condiments such as shiso and myōga. (© Pixta)

Morning Glory Festival.

A woman dressed in a yukata holding a fan. (© Pixta)

Hōzuki and wind chimes for sale at the Hōzuki Market at Sensōji. (© Pixta)

A lotus grown from seeds that were 2,000 years old, at left (© Pixta); a lotus seed pod

The yamahoko float ceremony during Kyoto’s Gion Festival. (© Jiji)

A wrapped chūgen gift. (© Pixta)

Unajū (eel on rice). (© Pixta)

Enjoying roasted sweetcorn. (© Pixta)

Karei (flounder) (left), and boiled in soy sauce. (© Pixta)