After watching numerous Japanese dramas and movies, there is a profound yearning for the depicted summer scenes: sitting on an open porch, fanning oneself, eating watermelon, surrounded by the smoke of mosquito coils, with occasional gentle breezes making wind chimes under the eaves tinkle softly.

In many Japanese dramas, to portray a romantic ambiance, scenes often depict a sweltering summer day with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves in the yard, accompanied by the clear sound of wind chimes, considered one of Japan's poetic symbols of summer.

Japan boasts a diverse array of wind chimes, varying in materials and designs. Typically resembling an inverted teacup, a clapper called the "tongue" dangles inside, attached to a long string with a rectangular paper tag known as the "short booklet." When a light breeze blows, the lower short booklet rotates, causing the tongue to strike the wind chime and emit a crisp sound.

Despite not serving as an air conditioner, the melodic and soothing sound of wind chimes, resembling birdsong or murmuring swallows, creates a calm and refreshing atmosphere, subtly alleviating the perceived heat.

Beyond cooling purposes, Japanese people believe in the protective qualities of wind chimes, as it is said that supernatural beings, upon hearing the sound, dare not approach. Therefore, locals often hang wind chimes under eaves for safety.

Legend has it that in the late Meiji period, near Tokyo's Kyobashi, a long and steep slope was notorious for ghostly appearances, making it impassable after dark. One day, a vendor selling wind chimes returned home late and encountered a woman crying silently with her face covered by long sleeves. The concerned vendor asked the reason, but the woman remained silent.

When the vendor reached out and pulled her sleeve, she slowly turned around, revealing a face smooth as an eggshell, devoid of features. Terrified, the vendor screamed and ran away, with the accompanying loud ringing of the wind chimes on his back. The woman, intending to pursue, vanished instantly upon hearing the chime.

Wind chimes are also commonly given as gifts, symbolizing the wish for family members to live freely, happily, and melodiously like the wind or wind chimes. The significant meaning of wind chimes lies in expressing longing, often portrayed in movies where wind chimes carry the protagonist's thoughts far away. Gifting a wind chime subtly implies affection or love.

Representative types of Japanese wind chimes include the "Edo wind chime" and the "Nambu wind chime." Additionally, there are various wind chimes made from materials such as metal, glass, ceramics, and crystal, each with unique shapes.

Famous Japanese wind chimes include Hakodate's glass wind chimes, Fukushima Tamura City's bamboo charcoal wind chimes, Shizuoka's Suruga's bamboo thousand-string craft wind chimes, Fukui's Echizen City's Echizen pottery wind chimes, Shiga's Shigaraki pottery wind chimes, Okayama's Bizen pottery wind chimes, Saga's Arita pottery wind chimes and Imari copper bells, and Okinawa's Ryukyu glass wind chimes.

During the summer, various wind chime-related events are held throughout Japan, such as the Wind Chime Festival at Kawagoe Hyakushaku Shrine, the Wind Chime Market in Kawasaki Daishi, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the Wind Chime Festival at Kannonji Temple in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture. These events are highly popular, attracting many visitors each year.

At these events, attendees can enjoy the enchanting sounds and beautiful designs of wind chimes, and even purchase their favorite wind chime to bring home, creating a romantic and refreshing summer atmosphere.