Terry Ito Column Vol.35 Tokyo's summer never ends

Summer days continue in Tokyo even in October, and half of the shelves at my favorite clothing store are filled with T-shirts. They've put up Halloween decorations, but the shop is still covered in summer clothes, making the atmosphere less lively. I can hear the manager grumbling. "We're not selling any winter items. Normally, down jackets and new coats sell well around this time of year, but winter items aren't selling," he says with a serious expression of concern. Winter bargain sales usually start around December 20th. Previously, they were called "Otoshidama sales" and held off until the New Year, but recently, they've been moving them forward. This creates a vicious cycle, with customers holding off on regular items in the hope of 30-50% discounts two months later. Since I have many friends who work at clothing stores, it's a complicated situation. Speaking to a surfer in Kamakura, he said, "The ocean temperature is lukewarm." He said it feels just like summer on some days. Speaking of which, the tap water is lukewarm, too. Normally, washing your face in the morning would signal the arrival of autumn.

The unseasonably hot weather is causing problems in the food industry. Sweet potatoes, a hidden favorite at supermarkets, aren't selling. The sweet potato display near the entrance looks lonely. They end up remaining unsold until closing time. Oden at convenience stores isn't getting much attention, either. Ice cream, the same amount as in midsummer, is still popular. Thanks to that, I'm eating Garigari-kun every day. Television shopping programs are already introducing next year's New Year's dishes, but even looking at them in a T-shirt doesn't get me excited. I'm starting to worry about whether they'll sell. Turning my attention to the dinner table, the king of autumn, the pacific saury, is surprisingly small. They say the catch is the same as usual, but it's just too skinny. Normally, one fish would satisfy me, but it's not enough. I want another. Set meal restaurants are struggling. Dissatisfaction with pacific saury set meals is on the rise.

However, if we turn our attention to fruit, autumn is definitely on its way. Persimmons are delicious. Their firm texture, different from the freshness of pears, is irresistible. Shine Muscat grapes, which have recently become popular, are crisp and can be eaten with the skin on, and have a refined sweetness. They're still a little pricey, but they're the first of the season, so we have to try them. And matsutake mushrooms round off the autumn flavors. I've been complaining about the heat for a while now, but just hearing the word matsutake makes me salivate. I want to feast on matsutake tempura, charcoal grilling, and earthenware pot steaming. Matsutake rice is an absolute must. After the short autumn ends, winter arrives, which means it's crab and pufferfish season. My only worry is the pufferfish, which are as skinny as saury. What am I worried about after all? Isn't it just my stomach? Shall I read a book first?

Terry Ito (director)

Born in Tsukiji, Tokyo in 1949. After attending Waseda Jitsugyo Junior and Senior High School, he graduated from Nihon University's School of Economics.
In March 2023, he completed the Master's program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance at Keio University.
He joined the television production company IVS Television, where he worked on variety shows such as "Tensai Takeshi's Genki ga Deru TV" and "Neruton Benikujidan."
He then went independent and worked on planning and directing a number of television programs, including TV Tokyo's "Asakusabashi Young Clothing Store."
His book "Comedy North Korea" became a bestseller, and he subsequently made numerous media appearances under the name Terry Ito.
In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in a variety of fields as a producer, entertainer, and commentator.
YouTube channelTerry Ito's Comedy Backdrop'
Currently writing a column in LALALA USA
https://lalalausa.com/archives/category/column/terry