It's raining Gobi sand

Sand deposits from China and Mongolia seem ever more frequent in Hiroshima. Apparently desertification is the cause. The effect is dirty cars, dirty washing, gritty teeth, eye irritation, reduced visibility and dodgy photos. This "atmospheric" shot of the torii gate at Miyajima was taken through a veil of Gobi desert sand. Unfortunately, from the peak of Mt. Misen, we couldn't make out even the nearest islands in the magnificent Setonaikai (Inland Sea) chain.

The Yomiuri newspaper reports that March to May is the season. The snows have melted and the westerly winds whip up. At least we don't get it as bad as Beijing where 300,000 tons of sand fell on the capital in two days in April.

Ironically, China and Japan are currently at odds over legitimate export of sand for use in concrete production. The Mainichi reports that Chinese sand is high quality and cheap, and therefore much in demand in concrete-loving Japan. But, China have pulled the plug on export deals.

The Chinese move has rattled concrete producers in Western Japan in particular because they have switched to Chinese sand after sand extraction along the Setonaikai Sea became difficult. Thus, they are now working hard to devise alternative plans, such as making sand by crushing gravel and increasing domestic sand extraction.

One alternative plan could be to sit, wait, and look to the heavens. It's raining Chinese sand in the Setonaikai this year - and in record quantities.