When the Seasons Begin to Overlap

The days can still feel surprisingly warm, sometimes like summer.

But early in the morning, temperatures have begun to drop into the single digits.

On one of those cold mornings, a thin layer of steam-like mist rose from Lake Biwa—a winter phenomenon created when cold air passes over warmer lake water.

Usually, we see it much later in the year.

During the day, traces of summer still remain.

In the morning air, autumn is here.

And for a moment, the lake already shows us a glimpse of winter.

Summer, autumn, and winter seem to overlap.

And yet, it does not feel completely like any one of them.

Seeing a winter scene arrive this early makes me wonder what kind of winter is waiting for us this year.