🌺 An Afternoon with Clear Skies in Urasoe, Okinawa | The Sky After the End of the Rainy Season and Today’s Daily Life

🌤 Afternoon Weather and the Seasonal Atmosphere in Urasoe, Okinawa

This afternoon in Urasoe, Okinawa, the morning’s cloudy skies have given way to clear skies, and the bright, summery atmosphere has returned. Temperatures are around 29–30°C, and humidity is relatively high at 77–84% —a high level—making for a muggy afternoon with occasional southerly breezes. According to weather data, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, temperatures ranged from 84–86°F (approx. 29–30°C), humidity was 77–84%, and cloud cover was 100%. The air remains humid, typical of the period immediately following the end of the rainy season.

The rainy season lasted a long 57 days, and sunny skies have finally returned. It was an afternoon where the brightness of the sky blended with the high humidity, making me feel the start of a summer that’s truly characteristic of Okinawa.

🛒 An Afternoon of Shopping with My Mom | Starting at Untama Market

After finishing my morning blog post, my mom said she wanted to go shopping, so we headed out for the afternoon. She had three requests: “the post office ATM,” “bananas,” and “Quickle Wipers.” First, we headed to “Untama Market,” a farmers’ market in Nishihara.

As we walked through the market, summer vegetables were still somewhat scarce—perhaps due to the recent end of the rainy season. The selection was modest, possibly also affected by the typhoon, but we found some nabeera (loofah) and bought some. We also added Nagasaki-grown potatoes, dibichi (pork trotters)—at my mother’s request—and anda miso (oil miso) to our shopping basket.

It looks like it’ll be a little while longer before summer vegetables are in full force, but it was a shopping trip that really made me feel the changing of the seasons.

🚗 To Nishihara San-A | An Unexpectedly Full Parking Lot on a Monday Afternoon

Next, we headed to Nishihara San-A. Even though it was a Monday afternoon, my mother was surprised to see the sign saying “Third-floor parking lot full,” and I felt the same way as we headed up to the fourth floor. When we got up there, it was completely empty, and we laughed as we parked, saying, “Everyone’s parking on the third floor too much, aren’t they?”

As soon as we arrived, we headed straight to the restroom. Lately, she’s been needing to use the restroom more often while we’re eating, so it’s become a habit to take her there first thing when we arrive at a store. I let her hold onto the shopping cart as we walked slowly, and since the accessible restroom was available, I guided her inside. Since it takes her a while, I wait nearby, telling her, “Take your time.”

🍜 Lunch at Osaka Ohsho | A leisurely afternoon meal

After using the restroom, we headed for lunch. When I asked, “What do you want to eat?” she gave her usual reply: “Anything is fine~.” Since there’s a post office ATM right in front of “Osaka Ohsho,” we headed straight there.

We were shown to a table just as another party was leaving; after the staff wiped down the table, we chose our meals. My mother ordered “Tianjin Fried Rice (Small)” and “Gyoza,” while I ordered the “Tianjin Rice + Fried Rice + Ramen + Gyoza Set.”

A robot served our food, and we began eating. Since the large bowl was getting hard for her to hold, I divided the food into a small children’s bowl for her to eat. She slowly ate two gyoza and half the Tianjin fried rice—it was an afternoon of hearty eating.

🏧 ATM and Shopping | Was the Real Purpose Updating Her Bank Statement?

After lunch, we went to the post office ATM. Once she withdrew money and updated her bank statement, my mother looked satisfied. She seemed so happy that I wondered, “Was updating her bank statement actually the real reason we came here?”

We kept our shopping to a minimum:

Quickle Wipe (wet)

Table wipes

Snacks for daycare

Bread for tomorrow morning

We quickly picked up just what we needed.

After that, we stopped at Starbucks for a 20-minute break—I had coffee, and my mom had chai. It was a nice chance to slowly unwind from the afternoon’s outing.

🧺 Clothespins at Daiso | UV Conditions in Okinawa

Before heading home, I realized I’d forgotten my clothespins, so we went to the Daiso on the second floor. UV rays are strong in Okinawa, so plastic deteriorates quickly and metal parts rust easily—which is why 100-yen clothespins are more than enough. Since they’re lucky to last a single season, Daiso is just right.

The intensity of the UV rays was also reflected in the afternoon weather data, which recorded a UV Index of 10.4 (very high). UV protection is essential during the afternoons in Okinawa.

😴 Coming Home and Taking a Break | As the Day Draws to a Close

After getting home, my mother said, “I’m going to take a little nap,” and rested for about an hour. In our household’s routine, once the nap is over, the day is nearing its end. Once dinner is finished, the day is practically over. Even though today was hectic with shopping and running errands, it was a fulfilling afternoon.

🌈 Summary

On this afternoon in Urasoe, Okinawa—with clear skies following the end of the rainy season—the high humidity and the air itself made us feel the start of summer. The changing seasons and the rhythm of daily life naturally blend into our shopping, meals, and casual conversations with my mother. Thank you for all your hard work today.