Japanese Words & Culture 禾乃登: Rice and other grains ripen | Japan’s 72 Microseasons
What 禾乃登 (Rice and other grains ripen) means in Japan, and what is actually in season now through the lens of shun.
Japanese Seasons
Japanese Words & Culture 
Japanese Words & Culture 玄鳥去: Swallows depart | Japan’s 72 Microseasons
What Tsubame saru (Swallows depart) means in Japan, and what is actually in season now through the lens of shun.
Japanese Words & Culture Shubun (秋分): Autumn Equinox in Japan
What 秋分 (Autumn Equinox) means in Japan, and how the old seasonal calendar compares with present-day weather and everyday life.
Japanese Words & Culture 鶺鴒鳴: Wagtails begin to call | Japan’s 72 Microseasons
The old calendar says wagtails begin to call. In mid-September 2026, a clearer seasonal signal is on the table: sweet potato harvest begins while autumn foods appear in everyday retail and summer heat lingers.
Japanese Words & Culture 草露白: Dew whitens the grass | Japan’s 72 Microseasons
What 草露白 (Dew whitens the grass) means in Japan, and what is actually in season now through the lens of shun.
Japanese Words & Culture Hakuro (白露): White Dew in Japan
What 白露 (White Dew) means in Japan, and what is actually in season now through the lens of shun.
Japanese Words & Culture Shosho (処暑): End of Heat in Japan
Shosho (処暑) means “End of Heat,” but Japan can still be very hot. A 2026 seasonal note comparing the traditional calendar with current weather, food supply, and everyday retail.
Japanese Words & Culture Japan’s 24 Solar Terms and 72 Microseasons: A Living Seasonal Calendar
Japan’s traditional seasonal calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms and 72 microseasons. This living guide will grow through the year, linking each old seasonal phrase to modern Japanese weather, food, plants and everyday life.
Japanese Words & Culture 天地始粛: The heat begins to subside | Japan’s 72 Microseasons
In late August Japan, the old calendar says the heat is easing — while the forecast still looks like summer. 天地始粛 is where lingering heat, early-autumn fruit and everyday seasonal culture overlap.
Japanese Words & Culture Japan Now Has an Official Name for a 40°C Day
Japan’s weather vocabulary has a new word: kokushobi, an official term for days reaching 40°C or higher. Here is what the name says about everyday summer life in Japan.