Karakkaze (空っ風、からっかぜ) refers to a kind of strong, dry wind that occurs in the Kantō region of Japan.

Overview

Karakkaze is formed when wind gusts cross atop the mountains in the Jōetsu region and experience a drop in both temperature and atmospheric pressure. Water vapor in the air falls as rain or snow on the mountain, so the wind that then crosses over the mountain becomes dry.[1][2]

Gunma Prefecture is famous for its karakkaze in winter.[3] Other names include Jōmō Karakkaze (Jōmō is an old name for Gunma) and Akagi Oroshi (karakkaze that blows down from Mt. Akagi). In Jomo Karuta, karakkaze is featured on the 'ra' card.[4]

Besides Gunma, Nasunohara in Tochigi Prefecture and Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture both are famous for karakkaze; there it is called Nasu and Enshu Karakkaze respectively.[2]

Effects

A phenomenon known as foehn wind suppresses cooling, which creates less snowfall in the surrounding area. This also creates a strong wind chill due to the strength of the winds.

Minor inconveniences caused by karakkaze include:

  • interrupting outdoor sporting matches
  • drying out skin (Gunma has ranked last in terms of beautiful skin according to a national survey on skin care)[1][5]
  • annoying locals (due to its loud howling sound)
  • blowing laundry off balconies

However, it is strong enough to cause more serious damage. Wind speeds can reach up to 20 kilometers per hour, causing damage to old houses.[1][6]

During the 1970s, residents in Ōta, Gunma complained that karakkaze was blowing up dust from the potato fields and spreading it throughout the city. They claimed the wind blew dust into their houses and prevented them from drying their laundry.

In February, 2021 a wildfire broke out in Ashikaga, Tochigi. The fire burned for nine consecutive days. In combination with an accumulation of dried leaves and debris, karakkaze made it difficult for helicopters to fly properly, delaying the fire department from being able to stop the blaze sooner.[7]

Uses

In agriculture

Farmers utilize the strong winds to dry various kinds of produce, such as konnyaku, cabbage, and cucumbers.[8]

As renewable energy

Gunma Prefectural Studio Tsulunos did a presentation called Let’s Get Together Gunma Wind!! and addressed ways to harness the power of karakkaze for wind power generation.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "空き家の強風対策について。群馬県のからっ風の被害はバカに出来ない？". Ie Tochi Story. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "からっ風の意味と時期とは？いつの季語？木枯らし、やませとの違い". 日本文化研究ブログ - Japan Culture Lab (in Japanese). 23 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "群馬県ってどんなとこ？". 群馬県の公式HP. Gunma Prefecture. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Jomo Karuta. English Version.（群馬県立女子大学外国語教育研究所訳）｜郷土かるたコレクション". carta.media.gunma-u.ac.jp. 群馬県立女子大学. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "3年連続美肌ランキング最下位からの巻き返し 生産・食・体験・開発 オール群馬のプロジェクト「こんにゃくセラミド美肌プロジェクト」がスタート". www.atpress.ne.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "からっかぜ【空っ風】 | か | 辞典". 学研キッズネット (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "足利の山火事の延焼について | オウミ技研". net-o.co.jp. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "ぐんまの気候と風土に育てられた特産物" (PDF). 群馬県の公式HP. Gunma Prefecture. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "【Let's Get Together Gunma Wind!!】プレゼンアワード2021グランプリチームによるプレゼン＠tsulunosスタジオ". スタジオTsulunos. Gunma Pref. Studio Tsulunos. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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