Uchimizu (Splashing water for coolness)

UCHIMIZU is a Japanese custom reviving these days because of Global boiling. (remember, worse than "warming"!)

UCHI means to hit or splash, and MIZU means water.
UCHIMIZU is to splash water on the street.

Originally, people sprinkled water on the dirt street in front of their houses to calm down the dust. It also played a role in cooling down the heat in summer. Water removes heat from the street when evaporating. The best time to sprinkle water is in the morning and around sunset. It could backfire sensible temperature if you do this midday, because too rapid evaporation rises humidity.

It used to be a common scene to see old women doing UCHIMIZU, but nowadays it is rare, probably because most streets are paved. However these days UCHIMIZU is revaluated as a eco-friendly custom in Tokyo. The heat island phenomenon is harsh, and UCHIMIZU is a small scaled but effective way of calming down city heat. The UCHIMIZU movement in Akihabara was closed up last summer.

UCHIMIZU is a Japanese custom, but it will be effective to cool down stone paved streets of Europe, or asphalt streets of USA too. It is better to use a bucket and ladle (usually made of wood in Japan) instead of hoses, to sprinkle apt amount of water.