<p>This is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchimizu" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Uchimizu</a>.</p>

<p>People do this to cool the street and as an effect - cools the surrounding area and reduces the amount of dust that flies around.</p>

<p>In recent times there has been a push for people to use recycled water instead to reduce waste.</p>

<p>The ladle and bucket are traditional, and can be replaced by hoses, buckets or any handy implement. Ladles and buckets are used exclusively at Uchimizu festivals though.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.uchimizu.jp/language/en/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Uchimizu.jp</a> provides a handy how-to guide for the activity:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lPrew.gif" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/36DkE.gif" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ks0sv.gif" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/EY9IT.gif" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/LfDWb.gif" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bpCmy.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><a href="http://www.axiommagazine.jp/2012/06/25/keeping-cool-101-uchimizu/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Further reading :) </a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:11:40.407Z
Now to find out if this actually works, we might need to ask on Physics.SE…
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:21:32.460Z
never thought there's actually a name for this kind of activity...
Darjeeling
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T04:04:27.917Z
@user1306322 have you asked this to Physics.SE? if so please link me the question, thank you.
user2705620
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-29T09:24:34.387Z
@AsshO.Le posted http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/114869/does-uchimizu-watering-streets-in-summer-help-reduce-temperature-in-an-area
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-02T01:41:45.547Z
the old people in my country did this too.

i guess its not japanese habit only
Tanya von Degurechaff
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-01T13:29:28.687Z
the further reading link looks like it's been domain squatted and redirects to a porn site. Recommend removing the link
Subaru Tashiro
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:08:31.493Z
2014-05-28T20:08:31.493Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>So if seen this happen in a few anime's before, but never really understood why it happens.</p>

<p>A character with a wooden spoon like object and a bucket of water throws water on the ground during summer.  Why are they doing this?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/fZkER.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T11:34:03.163Z
Oh wow lol, I paused a bit to early... They actually explained it right after this scene. If somebody wants to type out the answer feel free to :)
Dimitri mx
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T12:50:25.383Z
Just FYI, this is Soul Eater Not!
Hakase
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T13:34:14.473Z
@user1306322 yh i know. But the soul eater tag is ment for both series ^^
Dimitri mx
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:15:09.607Z
it's a common practice in some country to make dust disappear, especially in summer when there's a lot of dust on the street, when vehicle came, it will make the dust flies by its wind so we throw water on street to reduce the dust. But it can be dangerous since it can make the street become more slippery
Darjeeling
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:17:19.027Z
@ShinobuOshino Never heard of the practice before. Might be because I life in a country where it rains allot... all year long....
Dimitri mx
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-28T20:19:50.547Z
@Dimitrimx in my country, it not called summer anymore, it's a drought. No rain for months.
Darjeeling
<culture><soul-eater>
Why is she throwing water on the ground?
# Why is she throwing water on the ground?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-05-28
So if seen this happen in a few anime's before, but never really understood why it happens.

A character with a wooden spoon like object and a bucket of water throws water on the ground during summer. Why are they doing this?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/fZkER.jpg)
**Tags:** culture soul-eater
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh wow lol, I paused a bit to early... They actually explained it right after this scene. If somebody wants to type out the answer feel free to :)  
> **username_1**: Just FYI, this is Soul Eater Not!  
> **username_0**: @user1306322 yh i know. But the soul eater tag is ment for both series ^^  
> **username_2**: it's a common practice in some country to make dust disappear, especially in summer when there's a lot of dust on the street, when vehicle came, it will make the dust flies by its wind so we throw water on street to reduce the dust. But it can be dangerous since it can make the street become more slippery  
> **username_0**: @ShinobuOshino Never heard of the practice before. Might be because I life in a country where it rains allot... all year long....  
> **username_2**: @Dimitrimx in my country, it not called summer anymore, it's a drought. No rain for months.  
---
## 1 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2014-05-28. Score: 8 | Accepted answer
This is called [Uchimizu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchimizu).

People do this to cool the street and as an effect - cools the surrounding area and reduces the amount of dust that flies around.

In recent times there has been a push for people to use recycled water instead to reduce waste.

The ladle and bucket are traditional, and can be replaced by hoses, buckets or any handy implement. Ladles and buckets are used exclusively at Uchimizu festivals though.

[Uchimizu.jp](http://www.uchimizu.jp/language/en/) provides a handy how-to guide for the activity:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lPrew.gif)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/36DkE.gif)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ks0sv.gif)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/EY9IT.gif)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/LfDWb.gif)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/bpCmy.gif)

[Further reading :)](http://www.axiommagazine.jp/2012/06/25/keeping-cool-101-uchimizu/)
> **Comments:**
> **username_1** (2014-05-28): Now to find out if this actually works, we might need to ask on Physics.SE…  
> **username_2** (2014-05-28): never thought there's actually a name for this kind of activity...  
> **username_4** (2014-05-29): @user1306322 have you asked this to Physics.SE? if so please link me the question, thank you.  
> **username_1** (2014-05-29): @AsshO.Le posted http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/114869/does-uchimizu-watering-streets-in-summer-help-reduce-temperature-in-an-area  
> **username_5** (2016-06-02): the old people in my country did this too.

i guess its not japanese habit only  
> **username_6** (2022-08-01): the further reading link looks like it's been domain squatted and redirects to a porn site. Recommend removing the link  
---
