Abstract
This paper aims at restarting “the way of questioning atmosphere.” Literature review revealed that the quality
of atmosphere tends to be ruined through objectification when treated as the theme of study. Therefore the
present study posits that the way to ask atmosphere without objectification is fundamental. Specific ways where
atmosphere was sought in action of questioning was originated in an experience of the author as participant in an
elementary school life where atmosphere was worded and found as what was asked about. These ways differed
from general methods in the following two characteristics: 1) the descriptive interpretation of atmosphere was
accomplished through the hermeneutic phenomenology of atmosphere to let atmosphere be seen from itself,
and 2) the participation in the school life with the author’s own being there and reacting to things constituted
“interpretive moment of encountering”. Through this approach, the atmosphere was understood not as static aspect
of environment but as having a primordial nature of disclosing and revealing in front of us during the moment of
encounter.
