Thanks to Japan's four distinct seasons, the Japanese are very sensitive to the changing seasons.
When you write a formal letter, it's good manners to begin with some seasonal greeting. And you should seize any opportunity for conversation by starting with the topic of the weather. When you start talking to someone you've just met for the first time, talking about politics does not create a comfortable atmosphere. It's also better to avoid starting off with some personal matters, because the Japanese consider keeping some distance from other people as being very important.
Here are two expressions that show how closely the Japanese associate with the weather. I wonder if you've ever heard of a hare-onna, which means "a fine-weather woman" or an ame-otoko, "a rain man"? For some reason, a hare-onna always seems to take fine weather with her when traveling or going out, whereas an ame-otoko always seems to produce rain when it's least wanted! In fact, the Japanese qualify themselves as a hare or an ame! Which type are you?
