We're still not officially into rainy season here - it is getting very late and there's already talk of water shortages on the Niigata news if it continues. We have seen very little rain so far this month and it looks like those conditions may well continue a bit longer.

It's been another mix of hot and humid days either with the sun out or cloudy. On Tuesday temperatures rose to over 30 degrees and just to the north of the region in Koide temperatures hit 35 degrees.

You may have heard on the news but there was another fairly strong earthquake in Niigata prefecture on Monday - centered just 20km to the west of the big one last October. While people to the north in Nagaoka got fairly shaken up by it, it was only a small one here in Yuzawa. Thanks to the people who sent in mails asking about it.... everything's fine!