Why We Say ‘Raining Cats And Dogs’

Momijigari (pronounced like this) is a Japanese word that means “red leaves hunting.” It comes from “momiji,” the Japanese word for red leaves (or maple tree) and “kari,” which means “hunting.”

Momijigari is the tradition of visiting areas to see beautifully red leaves in the fall. It began as early as the Heian period (794-1185). Interestingly, the oldest extant Japanese film, a six-minute movie from 1899, is called “Momijigari.”

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