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Seasons in Japan and Japanese Calendar Part 2

24 Sekki and 72 Ko (Autumn and Winter)

◉ Early Autumn: July on the old calendar / August on the new calendar

■ 立秋 Risshu (Beginning of Autumn)

Around the 8th of August on the new calendar.
We can feel the signs of autumn.

涼風至 Suzukaze Itaru

Cool winds begin blowing.

寒蝉鳴 Higurashi Naku

Evening cicadas chirp.

蒙霧升降 Fukaki Kiri Matou

Heavy fog rolls in.

■ 処暑 Shosho (End of Heat)

Around the 23rd of August on the new calendar.
Heat of summer recedes.

綿柎開 Wata no Hanashibe Hiraku

Cotton plants produce white fibers.

天地始粛 Tenchi Hajimete Samushi

Heat recedes.

禾乃登 Kokumono Sunawachi Minoru

Rice grows and ripens.

◉ Mid-Autumn: August on the old calendar / September on the new calendar

■ 白露 Hakuro (White Dew)

Around the 8th of September on the new calendar.
White dew forms on the grass.

草露白 Kusa no Tsuyu Shiroshi

Moisture in the air gets cold and becomes glistening white dew.

鶺鴒鳴 Sekirei Naku

Wagtails sing.

玄鳥去 Tsubame Saru

Swallows leave for the south.

■ 秋分 Shubun (Autumn Equinox)

Around the 23rd of September on the new calendar.
The middle day of the seven days of the Higan period of Japanese Buddhism. Day and night become nearly equal in length.

雷乃収声 Kaminari Sunawachi Koe wo Osamu

Thunder stops.

蟄虫坏戸 Mushi Kakureteto wo Fusagu

Insects begin preparing for hibernation.

水始涸 Mizu Hajimete Karuru

Rice paddies are drained to dry for harvesting.

◉ Late Autumn: September on the old calendar / October on the new calendar

■ 寒露 Kanro (Cold Dew)

Around the 8th of October on the new calendar.
Autumn deepens and cold dew forms on the grass.

鴻雁来 Kogan Kitaru

Wild geese arrive from the north.

菊花開 Kiku no Hana Hiraku

Chrysanthemums start blooming.

蟋蟀在戸 Kirigirisu ni Ari

Autumn insects start chirping.

■ 霜降 Soko (First Frost)

Around the 23rd of October on the new calendar.
First frost sets in.

霜始降 Shimo Hajimete Furu

The year’s first frost forms.

霎時施 Kosame Tokidoki Furu

Light rain sometimes falls.

楓蔦黄 Momiji Tsuta Kibamu

Leaves turn red and yellow.

◉ Early Winter: October on the old calendar / November on the new calendar

■ 立冬 Ritto (Beginning of Winter)

Around the 7th of November on the new calendar.
We can feel the signs of winter.

山茶始開 Tsubaki Hajimete Hiraku

Sasanqua flowers bloom.

地始凍 Chi Hajimete Koru

The ground starts to freeze.

金盞香 Kinsenka Saku

Narcissus flowers bloom.

■ 小雪 Shosetsu (Light Snow)

Around the 22nd of November on the new calendar.
It gets colder and rain turns into snow.

虹蔵不見 Niji Kakurete Miezu

Rainbows are rarely seen.

朔風払葉 Kitakaze Konoha wo Harau

The north winds blow leaves from the trees.

橘始黄 Tachibana Hajimete Kibamu

Tachibana oranges turn yellow and ripen.

◉ Mid-Winter: November on the old calendar / December on the new calendar

■ 大雪 Taisetsu (Heavy Snow)

Around the 7th of December on the new calendar.
Snow starts to fall and pile up.

閉塞成冬 Sora Samuku Fuyu to Naru

Dark, winter clouds are all over the sky.

熊蟄穴 Kuma Ana ni Komoru

Bears begin hibernating.

魚厥魚群 Sake no Udo Muragaru

Binds of salmon swim up rivers.

■ 冬至 Toji (Winter Solstice)

Around the 22nd of December on the new calendar.
The shortest day/longest night of the year.

乃東生 Natsukarekusa Shozu

Common self-heal plant sprouts.

麋角解 Sawashika Tsuno Otsuru

Deer shed antlers.

雪下出麦 Yuki Watarite Mugi Nobiru

Wheat sprouts under the snow.

◉ Late Winter: December on the old calendar / January on the new calendar

■ 小寒 Shokan (Early Cold)

Around the 5th of January on the new calendar.
Cold season starts, growing colder and colder.

芹乃栄 Seri Sunawachi Sakau

Japanese parsley flourishes by the waterside.

水泉動 Shimizu Atataka wo Fukumu

Frozen natural springs start to thaw.

雉始鳴 Kiji Hajimete Naku

Japanese pheasants sing for the first time that year.

■ 大寒 Daikan (Greater Cold)

Around the 20th of January on the new calendar.
It is the coldest time of the year.

款冬華 Fuki no Hana Saku

Fuki butterbur sprouts.

水沢腹堅 Sawamizu Kori Tsumeru

Streams freeze over.

鶏始乳 Niwatori Hajimete Toya ni Tsuku

Hens start to lay eggs.

To return to Part 1 of this article, please click here.

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