THE JAPANESE MICROSEASONS
The traditional Japanese calendar marks the passing of the seasons and changes in the natural world through the names given to different times of year. There are 24 major divisions from the Beginning of Spring in early February until Greater Cold.
The 24 divisions are each split into three for a total of 72 microseasons that last just five days each. In their present form, they offer a poetic journey through the Japanese year in which the land awakens and blooms with life and activity before returning to slumber.
| MICROSEASONS CALENDAR |
|
Beginning of Spring
|
| February 4–8 |
East wind melts the ice |
| February 9–13 |
Bush warblers start singing in the mountains |
| February 14–18 |
Fish emerge from the ice |
| February 19–23 |
Rain moistens the soil |
| February 24–28 |
Mist starts to linger |
| March 1–5 |
Grass sprouts, trees bud |
| March 6-10 |
Hibernating insects surface |
| March 11-15 |
First peach blossoms |
| March 16-20 |
Caterpillars become butterflies |
| March 21-25 |
Sparrows start to nest |
| March 26-30 |
First cherry blossoms |
| March 31-April 1 |
Distant thunder |
| April 5-9 |
Swallows return |
| April 10-14 |
Wild geese fly north |
| April 15-19 |
First rainbows |
| April 20-24 |
First reeds sprout |
| April 25-29 |
Last frost, rice seedlings grow |
| April 30-May 4 |
Peonies bloom |
| May 5-9 |
Frogs start singing |
| May 10-14 |
Worms surface |
| May 15-20 |
Bamboo shoots sprout |
| May 21-25 |
Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves |
| May 26-30 |
Safflowers bloom |
| May 31-June 5 |
Wheat ripens and is harvested |
| June 6-10 |
Praying mantises hatch |
| June 11-15 |
Rotten grass becomes fireflies |
| June 16-20 |
Plums turn yellow |
| June 21-26 |
Self-heal withers |
| June 27-July 1 |
Irises bloom |
| July 2-6 |
Crow-dipper sprouts |
| July 7-11 |
Warm winds blow |
| July 12-16 |
First lotus blossoms |
| July 17-22 |
Hawks learn to fly |
| July 23-28 |
Paulownia trees produce seeds |
| July 29-August 2 |
Earth is damp, air is humid |
| August 3-7 |
Great rains sometimes fall |
| August 8-12 |
Cool winds blow |
| August 13-17 |
Evening cicadas sing |
| August 18-22 |
Thick fog descends |
| August 23-27 |
Cotton flowers bloom |
| August 28-September 1 |
Heat starts to die down |
| September 2-72 |
Rice ripens |
| September 8-12 |
Dew glistens white on grass |
| September 13-17 |
Wagtails sing |
| September 18-22 |
Swallows leave |
| September 23-27 |
Thunder ceases |
| September 28-October 2 |
Insects hole up underground |
| October 3-7 |
Farmers drain fields |
| October 8-12 |
Wild geese return |
| October 13-17 |
Chrysanthemums bloom |
| October 18-22 |
Crickets chirp around the door |
| October 23-27 |
First frost |
| October 28-November 1 |
Light rains sometimes fall |
| November 2-6 |
Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow |
| November 7-11 |
Camellias bloom |
| November 12-16 |
Land starts to freeze |
| November 17-21 |
Daffodils bloom |
| November 22-26 |
Rainbows hide |
| November 27-December 1 |
North wind blows the leaves from the trees |
| December 2-6 |
Tachibana citrus tree leaves start to turn yellow |
| December 7-11 |
Cold sets in, winter begins |
| December 12-16 |
Bears start hibernating in their dens |
| December 17-21 |
Salmon gather and swim upstream |
| December 22-26 |
Self-heal sprouts |
| December 27-31 |
Deer shed antlers |
| January 1-4 |
Wheat sprouts under snow |
| January 5-9 |
Parsley flourishes |
| January 10-14 |
Springs thaw |
| January 15-19 |
Pheasants start to call |
| January 20-24 |
Butterburs bud |
| January 25-29 |
Ice thickens on streams |
| January 30-February 3 |
Hens start laying eggs |