By: Alex
The vibrant red leaves (mainly from various maple species) that once shone brilliantly in autumn wither and fall completely by winter. By early summer the following year, the maple trees sprout tender emerald-green leaves, creating another seasonally limited scenic view of "fresh green." The Japanese use the kanji term "ao momiji" (literally "blue red leaves") to describe this phenomenon, which lasts only about half a month.Different shades of green interweave under the sunlight, resulting in a richly colored and layered scene that also exudes vitality—perfectly matching the dynamic image of summer.
Due to the ongoing resurgence of COVID-19 in Japan, Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, and Hyogo Prefecture have issued a third state of emergency, urging residents to minimize outdoor activities. It’s likely that many people won’t be able to enjoy the fresh green scenery at this time. Twitter user @MKofficial_PR has specially compiled some "green-red leaves" photos taken in previous years in Kyoto to share with netizens.
(…Hello....Hello, I am the person managing the Twitter account for MK Taxi running in Kyoto... Kyoto will soon have beautiful fresh greenery... but... I think many people can't go see it...Instead, MK will deliver new greenery... so if you can see this message... please consider following us... The photos are ones we took in the past... pic.twitter.com/RsBcqGfhUI
— MK Taxi (@MKofficial_PR) April 27, 2021
▲Kyoto’s fresh greenery is beautiful this year, but I think many people can’t go see it. We’re sharing photos of past fresh green scenes we’ve taken.
By the way, the Japanese word "ao" (blue) actually refers to blue, so "ao momiji" would literally mean "blue maple leaves." If the young leaves are greenish-blue, why call them "blue"?It's said that in ancient Japan, people considered green as a shade of blue, using "ao" to refer to both the blue sky and the green of trees.It wasn't until the late 12th century to early 13th century that "blue" and "green" began to be distinguished.Regardless, this tradition has been passed down to today, which is why "green maple leaves" are also called "ao momiji." To avoid confusion or misunderstanding, the more commonly used interpretive term "qing feng" (blue maple) can be used.
▲Yoshimine-dera Temple in Kyoto (photo by MKofficial_PR @Twitter)
▲Nanzen-ji Temple in Kyoto (photo by MKofficial_PR @Twitter)
▲The bamboo grove of Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto (photo by MKofficial_PR @Twitter)
▲Kifune Shrine in Kyoto (photo by MKofficial_PR @Twitter)
▲Komyo-ji Temple in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto (photo by MKofficial_PR @Twitter)
▲Mizutani Tea House at Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Kyoto (photo by cachette_0803 @Twitter)
▲Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto (photo by mk_ryokou @Twitter)
▲(photo by Asahi81837209 @Twitter)
▲(photo by kingfish_love @IG)
▲Kanagawa Prefecture (photo by kyon__photo.28 @IG)
▲Ryuan-ji Temple (Glass Temple) in Kyoto (photo by masa_3604 @IG)
▲Aso, Kumamoto Prefecture (photo by takumi09080908 @Twitter)
▲Komyo-ji Temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture (photo by chiharu_0331 @IG)
▲Choan-an Yoshimine-dera Temple in Kyoto (photo by yang_wen_le @IG)
Source: Twitter