July 10th is Natto Day. Be persistent and forge rich connections.

We are finally at the threshold of true summer, a time when humidity and heat begin to accumulate in our bodies little by little.
It is the season when you can hear the cicadas from the morning, and just standing in the kitchen makes you break a light sweat.

Ten days have passed since the second half of the year began on the calendar.
In our daily lives,
“I feel a bit like I have summer fatigue, and by the evening, I’m suddenly hit with exhaustion...”
“I have the desire to do things around the house and pursue various hobbies, but my body just won't keep up.”
Don't you ever feel like that—losing your appetite or just feeling sluggish?

Because you are someone who works hard every day for your family and for your own roles, your body might be surprised by the sudden rise in temperature, making it easy to feel a little low on energy.
In the story about 'Crying Days' I shared yesterday, I talked about the importance of detoxing to wash away the sediment in your heart, but after your heart feels refreshed, it is very important to deliciously fill yourself with energy from within your body.

At times like that, when you open the refrigerator, 'natto,' a staple of the Japanese dining table that is almost always there, becomes a wonderful ally that supports our hearts and bodies.
July 10th is 'Natto Day'.
Just as natto takes time to ferment and become delicious, perhaps there is meaning in the way we build up our lives little by little.
Why not spend a warm moment together, borrowing the power of 'fermentation' and 'persistence' that these small beans possess, to gently care for your hardworking body from the bottom of your stomach?

Why is July 10th 'Natto Day'? The 'miracle of fermentation' that protects the health of the Japanese people, which even Prince Shotoku loved (?).

Why did July 10th become Natto Day?
It was established by the Kansai Natto Industry Cooperative and the National Natto Cooperative Society Federation to widely share the wonders of natto, based on the very familiar wordplay of 'na (7) tto (10)'.

True to its name, which is written as 'offering beans,' there is a theory that it was once made in the kitchens of temples, and a unique origin story that it was born from a chance encounter.
The process of bacteria changing beans over time is truly 'magic'.
For those of us who are busy, natto, which provides high nutrition without much effort, is the very embodiment of the reassuring wisdom of life left to us by our ancestors.

Although natto is a familiar sight on our daily tables, its history is actually very old and deeply intertwined with the history of Japan.
One theory says it began when boiled soybeans accidentally fell onto the 'rice straw' used as flooring in pit dwellings during the Yayoi period and fermented naturally.

Furthermore, there is an interesting legend related to Prince Shotoku.
It is said that when Prince Shotoku boiled soybeans to feed his beloved horse, he wrapped the leftovers in rice straw and hung them near the stable, where they naturally turned into delicious natto.
A very warm story has been passed down that the Prince liked it so much that he shared it with the villagers.

For people in the distant past, in an era when meat was precious, natto, born from the fermentation of soybeans, was a 'living nutritional medicine' for maintaining physical strength.
By taking the time to 'ferment' it, the original nutrition of the soybeans multiplies, becoming a strong barrier that protects our bodies from the inside.

In other words, Natto Day is not just a day to eat it deliciously, but
“a day of beautiful wellness to express gratitude for the invisible micro-life force of nature, to boost your own inner life force, and to reshape a 'persistent body and mind' that will not be defeated by the summer heat.”
That is what it was.

Natto is a fermented food packed with the wisdom to maintain health, so nutritious that it has long been called 'meat from the field'.
It is an important presence that boosts your physical and mental energy by supplementing the stamina needed to beat the heat of this season and regulating your stomach.
The power of fermentation residing in every single bean improves circulation and makes your heart feel lighter.

'Stickiness' retains rich fortune and good connections.

Let's add a little twist to your usual natto and turn it into a luxurious meal that delights the five senses.

I recommend 'Luxurious Natto Rice' with carefully selected condiments.
Serve it in your favorite bowl and add plenty of condiments.

Add the vibrant green of green onions or shiso leaves, the golden color of egg yolk or grated ginger, and the aroma of shiso or nori.
Refreshing hojicha, which washes away the fermented flavor, goes well with it.

Using your five senses to enjoy the stringy texture and the aroma of the beans, it is a time to reward yourself by saying, 'Ah, thank you for your hard work today.'
Such small daily efforts greatly improve the quality of your life.

You might think, 'Does just eating natto have anything to do with the luck of my home?'
However, in the wisdom of traditional living and the world of Feng Shui, 'fermented foods' like natto and 'strong stickiness' are said to be
“a powerful energy that firmly shapes the seeds of effort you have sown so far, and stickily attracts and anchors rich financial luck and connections with important people within your home.”
In Feng Shui, fermented foods have the power to 'mature the luck of human relationships and harmonize them'.
They gently calm small quarrels between family members and deepen bonds.
Furthermore, that unique 'stickiness' has a wonderful power of attraction to 'not let the financial luck or good fortune that has entered once escape, but to keep it firmly in your home (anchor it)'.

Because you are someone who works hard every day, don't just finish your meal, but
“make it a day to charge up the power to believe in the efforts you have made so far and to proceed through the second half of the year with persistence.”
When you think of it that way, doesn't the time you spend mixing your usual natto feel like a reliable exercise that significantly boosts the foundation of your home's luck?

Natural stones that resemble the stickiness of natto, connecting people and nurturing bonds

I would like to introduce natural stones that beautifully resonate with the 'solid stability of the earth' possessed by natto soybeans and the 'anchoring energy' that does not let rich connections escape, helping to cultivate the persistent core strength and certain financial luck sleeping within you.
These are recommended stones that support the 'nurturing power' and 'health' that natto possesses.

・Aventurine
Known as a 'stone of health,' Aventurine is a gentle stone that reminds one of a 'forest,' and it relaxes the tension of the mind and body, circulating gentle energy.
As a stone of 'connections' that smoothes human relationships and values harmony with those around you, it cultivates peace of mind.

・Garden Quartz
Garden quartz, which looks as if a landscape is trapped inside the crystal, stores energy and brings "growth and healing" to its owner.
Use it as a charm to steadily build a healthy daily life.

・Smoky Quartz
A chic brown crystal with the power of "grounding," which roots deeply into the earth.
It is a reliable, stabilizing charm that gently absorbs the impatience in your mind and the anxiety of "what if things don't go well in the second half of the year" into the great outdoors, allowing you to focus on the certain happiness that exists here and now.

・Clear Quartz
An all-purpose rock crystal that purifies everything.
Like delicious rice that goes well with any dish, it is a basic charm item that enhances the individuality of other stones while changing the old air in your home into a smooth, pure flow.

・Calcite
Calcite, which comes in various shapes and colors, brings out your true self and gives you the power to think flexibly.
It seems to teach us that "just as there are many ways to eat natto, it's okay to be many different versions of yourself."

Quartz and smoky quartz are very tough against water and light, but some stones have a slightly delicate nature if left exposed to strong, direct summer sunlight for long periods.
On the night of Natto Day, avoid direct sunlight and let them have a gentle "moonlight bath" by the window, or let them rest slowly on a bed of crystal chips to gently recharge the stones with the earth's power.

Ways to enjoy yourself that are enriching without costing money

You don't need special dishes to enjoy life; there are many ways to find joy in everyday living.
While just opening a pack and eating it is wonderful, today I will introduce steps to fully open your five senses and take in energy more richly.

・Try mixing while enjoying the rhythm of "mixing"
Once you open the natto pack, before adding the sauce or soy sauce, try mixing it round and round with your chopsticks with a clear mind.
Feel the air being incorporated as it gradually turns white, fluffy bubbles rise, and the stickiness becomes stronger.
This "time spent mixing with a clear mind" itself subtracts distracting thoughts from your head and becomes a comfortable brain reset time for generating wonderful ideas for household budget management.
It's also fun to have a "who can make it fluffier" competition with your children.

・Finding "flavor combinations" to enjoy with children
Try unexpected combinations like kimchi, cheese, or sesame oil, asking "What do you think would taste good?"
Such trivial food adventures pour exciting energy into your heart.

・Add summer sticky companions (okra or nagaimo) and enjoy the colors
If you have okra, nagaimo (mountain yam), or green onions in your fridge, please try chopping a little and adding them to your natto.
I mentioned the cuteness of the star-shaped okra in the story about "July 7th being Tanabata, Yukata, and Somen Day," but by adding vivid green and white colors, the life force of the earth is transmitted directly through your eyes, and the vibration of your home dining table will instantly rise.

It doesn't have to be perfect; enjoy a persistent, fermenting heart

Every day doesn't have to be perfectly organized.
Just as natto takes time to ferment, perhaps "persistence" is important in our daily lives, just like natto.
Even on days when things don't go well, or days when you feel lost like tangled threads, that is proof that you are "maturing" over time.
You don't have to aim for a perfect finish.
If you can just spend each day carefully in your own way, that is enough.

You don't have to transfer the natto to a plate; it's fine to serve it at the table in the pack.
Just take one bite and feel for one second, "Ah, the flavor of the sauce has soaked in and it's delicious. I'm glad I'm Japanese."
Even just that is a wonderful and supremely lovely way to spend "Natto Day," where you have gently taken in the nutrition your body needs.

July 10th, Natto Day.
While imagining the powerful green leaves of soybeans growing steadily in the earth, take one deep, deep breath.
May it be a gentle day where the heaviness and impatience of summer are subtracted away, and a comfortable sense of security and a cycle of rich connections return.

Now, what condiments shall we enjoy it with?
What is your favorite topping for natto?
I would be very happy if you could tell me stories of your "persistent days" in the comments.
"I felt a little more energetic after reading this article."
"Maybe I'll try mixing natto with a clear mind tonight."
If you thought that, I would be happy if you pressed the like button below.

If this article resonated with you, I would be encouraged if you could provide support (a tip) equivalent to a cup of tea ☕️
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