Watching a lot of Japanese dramas and movies, do you ever feel a longing for the scenes of summer depicted on the screen?

Sitting on an open porch, fanning oneself, munching on watermelon, or sipping on cold tea, a mosquito coil emitting a thin smoke nearby. Occasionally, a gentle breeze makes the wind chimes hanging from the eaves tinkle softly.

In many Japanese dramas, to portray a romantic atmosphere, they often include scenes like this: in the sweltering summer, a gentle breeze rustles the leaves in the yard, and the air is filled with the unmistakable sound of wind chimes.

Japan has various wind chimes made of different materials and featuring unique designs. The commonly seen wind chime resembles an inverted teacup with a dangling clapper called the "tongue." Below the tongue is a long string with a rectangular paper tag, known as the "short booklet."

When a light breeze blows, the lower short booklet rotates in the wind, causing the tongue to strike the wind chime and produce a crisp sound. Although wind chimes don't have an actual cooling effect like air conditioning, the melodic and soothing sound they emit, reminiscent of singing birds or murmuring swallows, can create a calming and refreshing atmosphere, reducing the perception of heat.

In addition to being a way to cool down, Japanese people believe that wind chimes also have a protective effect against evil spirits. It is said that supernatural beings shy away from the sound of wind chimes, so locals hang them under the eaves for safety.

Legend has it that in the late Meiji period, near Kyobashi in Tokyo, there was a long and steep slope where ghosts often appeared, making it impassable after dark. One day, a vendor selling wind chimes was returning home late and encountered a woman standing by the roadside, her face covered by long sleeves, crying silently.

The vendor, concerned, asked, "Madam, why are you weeping?" After repeated inquiries, the woman remained silent. Unable to resist, the vendor pulled at the woman's sleeve. Slowly turning around revealed that her face was smooth as an eggshell, devoid of mouth, nose, or eyes. Terrified, the vendor screamed and ran away, with the wind chime on his back ringing loudly. The woman, intending to pursue, vanished instantly upon hearing the chime.

Wind chimes are also often given as gifts to family and friends. Gifting a wind chime symbolizes wishing the recipient a free, happy, and harmonious life as the wind or wind chimes. The profound meaning of wind chimes lies in expressing longing, as seen in many movie plots where the wind chimes under the eaves carry the protagonist's thoughts far away. Gifting a wind chime implies a subtle expression of affection or love.

Two of the most representative types of Japanese wind chimes are the "Edo wind chime" and the "Nambu wind chime." Apart from these are wind chimes made from various materials such as metal, glass, ceramics, and crystal, each with unique shapes.

Famous Japanese wind chimes include Hakodate's glass wind chimes, Fukushima Tamura City's bamboo charcoal wind chimes, Shizuoka's Suruga's bamboo thousand-string craft wind chimes, Fukui's Echizen City's Echizen pottery wind chimes, Shiga's Shigaraki pottery wind chimes, Okayama's Bizen pottery wind chimes, Saga's Arita pottery wind chimes and Imari copper bells, and Okinawa's Ryukyu glass wind chimes.

During the summer, various wind chime-related events are held throughout Japan, such as the Wind Chime Festival at Kawagoe Hyakushaku Shrine, the Wind Chime Market in Kawasaki Daishi, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Wind Chime Festival at Kannonji Temple in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. These events are viral, attracting many visitors each year.

During these events, one can enjoy the enchanting sounds and beautiful designs of wind chimes and even purchase one's favourite wind chime to bring home, creating a romantic and refreshing summer atmosphere.