Summer is the season when you often see young couples walking hand in hand.
Since arms are more exposed in summer than in winter, people's hand movements can be seen more clearly in busy areas in summer.
That's why the scene of them holding hands may be so memorable.

You can see young couples especially in cities with lots of cafes.
When I see a man and woman walking down the street holding hands, I feel a warm feeling in my heart.
Summer brings with it a long vacation, which can create a lot of personal drama.
Love is one of them.

Today, I saw a couple wearing yukata at the station.
Should I take the train heading towards the port?
There was supposed to be a fireworks display tonight.
A man and woman in their late 30s are holding hands, looking a little shy; their hesitant hands seem to reveal their love for each other.
Neither of them seemed used to wearing yukata.

I don't know if they were shy or just not used to holding hands, but I watched them, wondering how many dramatic moments each person has in their lifetime, walking hand in hand with someone of the opposite sex while wearing a yukata.

That may have been the first time, or perhaps the last time, that the two of them held hands in yukata.


The other day, I happened to hear the theme song of a nostalgic movie while I was in a cafe in Ginza looking for something cold to drink.
Among the many romance films out there, this is the one I recommend to others as a model for love for adult women.
The main character is a young boy, and the film is based on the boy's experiences with an adult woman with whom he falls in love.
The composer is Michel Legrand.
The nostalgic and beautiful piano melody is a famous masterpiece that many people have heard.

At the beginning of the film, the protagonist begins speaking in a monologue.
As we reminisce about the past and talk fondly, our memories begin to flow, accompanied by the sound of the waves.

The title of the film is "The Summer of '42" (1971 American film, original title: The Summer of '42).

It's a story of a summer love affair, but when you think about it, you don't often hear expressions like "memories of spring" or "memories of winter."
After all, is it precisely because it's summer on Earth that drama and happenings occur?

Perhaps it's because summer makes people more active, as seen in the common scenes of couples walking through crowds holding hands.
Since hotter parts of the world are more populated, heat appears to be a biological necessity for thriving.

Now, I don't know how old you are if you're reading this article.

"Love is not a firework from a distant day"

What image do you get from this word?
Some of you may remember this phrase as it was used in a whiskey commercial in the past.

Interpretations vary.

Even if you try to remember the fireworks you saw a long time ago, you can only remember them vaguely, but even if you forget about love for a while, love will begin suddenly, as vividly as fireworks, and as if you are hit by the sound of fireworks, so that you don't need to remember how to do it.
This is how I feel.

At work, I have the opportunity to provide relationship counseling.
Women who suffer in love feel that it is not the love that is painful, but the separation that is painful.

They suffer from wanting to separate (break up), and they suffer from not being able to separate (break up), and they suffer from wanting to separate (break up), but not wanting to separate (break up).
In general, if someone asks for advice, I recommend taking some time away (preparing or practicing being alone).
The reason is that the suffering proves that the relationship is a pattern that is unlikely to lead to happiness.
It is the same as recommending that you temporarily stop using cosmetics that cause skin problems.

If they don't want to be alone, they are very attached and won't leave even if you give them advice.
It's as if their inseparableness proves the strength of their bond.
Even if the bond is strong, it is unfortunate if it causes suffering.
However, when I feel even more attached to him and think, "I don't want to be separated from him, even if he opposes it!", it's when the fireworks are going off one after another with great force.
It's very impressive and dramatic. When you're feeling that intense excitement, you're right in the middle of the drama.

Women who have suffered through such painful relationships and decided to break up may think for a moment, "I've had enough of love," but then everyone hears the sound of fireworks in the distance as summer comes again.

"The longer you wait, the more you realize what you gained from that relationship. When you start to feel nostalgic for that love, the pain fades away. Then, one day, after a few seasons have passed, love may begin again, just like fireworks."

I don't want to fall in love anymore, I don't think I can. This is what I tell women who feel depressed and say this.

Love is not a distant firework.
As the seasons change, the time will come when you will start to miss someone. Who knows if that will be a year from now, or ten years from now?

And love begins like seeing fireworks in the sky.
Love is something that shines in the dark sky and shocks the heart with its vividness.

The colour and size of the fireworks vary depending on the relationship, and they all have different shapes.
Just as you can never see the same fireworks twice, a moment of love, a fleeting scene, emits a light that can never be reproduced.

The beginning of love is not as clearly defined as turning the page on a calendar.
But when you fall in love, things start to look different.
The same places and things as usual will appear to sparkle and shine in a different way than usual.

When we see such people, we feel a sparkle in our eyes. The couple in yukatas I saw today were also shining brightly, even though they looked confused.



I'm sure there will be fireworks displays held in your area this summer.

Whether you're in love now, have been in a relationship for a while, or have had a dramatic romance in the past, when you see fireworks, try to remember your feelings of love.
Perhaps summer fireworks festivals are held during the hot summer months to remind people of their love.

Along with the classic fireworks, the sea is also a setting for dramas in the summer.
Speaking of the sea, waves come to mind. The aforementioned film "Memories of Summer" also features scenes and sounds of waves.

Many of us remember summers spent playing at the beach as children and young adults.
If you want to reminisce about yourself from long ago, try listening to the sound of fireworks or waves.
I feel a wave of nostalgia welling up inside me.
When you feel nostalgia, your brain is reliving that time.
The sound of the waves and the fireworks display both bring back nostalgic memories of childhood and the excitement of love.

For the couples holding hands in yukata you saw today, that date will someday become a nostalgic story.

This year, or in the future, you may find a summer story that brings back fond memories for you, along with a love story.