The day after tomorrow, Thursday the 22nd, is the winter solstice. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year, also called ichiyo-raifuku, the return of the yang. In the idea that all things arise from yin and yang, the solstice is the extreme of yin, when the sun's power is weakest; from this day yang is said to revive, and the day was celebrated as ichiyo-raifuku.
Toward the year-end and New Year, the cold will grow more serious. On the solstice one wants to eat pumpkin for nourishment, soak in a yuzu bath to warm the body and pray for good health, and get through the harsh winter. This morning, looking from the building's roof at Fuji standing so dignified, that feeling grew stronger.