Singing insects - Nakumushi

Japanese: 鳴く虫 - なくむし

It is a common name for insects whose sounds can be appreciated, but the types included vary from person to person. It generally refers to insects belonging to the Orthoptera families Gryllidae and Tettigoniidae, and excludes grasshoppers. It almost never includes cicadas. There has long been a trend in Japan to enjoy the sounds of insects, and many types are included in seasonal themes. Originally, it was about enjoying the sounds of insects in the mountains and fields, and such events are still held in various places today, but in the Edo period (Kansei era), a business of selling insects was established, and then the techniques for breeding and raising them were developed, and people began to keep various types of chirping insects at home and enjoy their sounds.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

音色が鑑賞できる昆虫をまとめて呼ぶ場合の俗称であるが，人によって包含する種類は異なる。一般的には直翅目のコオロギ科とキリギリス科に属する昆虫を指しバッタ科のものは除かれる。なお，セミ類を含めることもほとんどない。日本には古くから虫の音を楽しむ風潮があって季題にも多くの種類があげられている。元来，山野で虫の音を楽しむもので，今でもこうした催しが各地で開かれているが，江戸時代(寛政年間)に虫売という商いができ，続いて飼育繁殖させる技術も開発され，家庭で各種の鳴く虫を飼い，音色を楽しむようになった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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