When asked about summer drinks, most people might say "Calpis." Or perhaps beer. In any case, my summer staple drink is "Calpis." And not "Calpis Water," but the concentrated syrup diluted to drink, which feels more summery. The process of "putting ice in a glass and diluting the syrup with water to the desired concentration" deepens the flavor. I like both Calpis and Calpis Water, but according to a friend who is a Calpis connoisseur, Calpis should always be drunk diluted from the concentrate.

Like Calpis, there was a time when I preferred "white foods." Not for their taste, but simply for their color. For this reason, I would choose and eat foods that were generally pale, such as tofu, milk, white beans, yogurt, and white bread.
This was because I felt that white foods somehow made my skin whiter. Conversely, as I was trying to achieve fairer skin, I avoided dark-colored sweets like chocolate.

Erik Satie, one of my favorite composers, was also drawn to mysticism and Dadaism. He reportedly favored an all-white tableware and chose foods centered around pale ingredients, enjoying what he called a "white meal." Although my motivation differs considerably from that of the artist who created such captivating and mysteriously beautiful music, I feel a sense of kinship with him over our shared preference for a "white meal."

Now, I understand that meals bursting with color are better for nutritional balance. However, white foods, in their own way, seem to possess the power to promote not just fair skin, but healthy skin. Tofu and beans are low in calories and high in protein, and Calpis, with its lactic acid bacteria, strengthens the gut. Their nutritional value is indeed remarkable.

Perhaps my affection for white foods wasn't entirely misguided after all. As the sunlight intensifies with each passing day, and Satie's pale, ethereal melodies drift through my mind, I feel a yearning, my inner vision filled with the stark white light of summer.

My go-to summer drink is still Calpis; it's good for the stomach, delicious, and perfect for hot days!