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 Traditions
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 Why Are Japanese Temples and Shrines Red, Green, and Gold?
Why do Japanese temples and shrines so often use vermilion, green, yellow, and gold? The answer connects mineral pigments, religion, architecture, and East Asian cultural exchange.
Japanese Words & Culture Why Do Japanese People Slurp Noodles? From Edo Soba to Iki
Why is slurping ramen, soba, or udon acceptable in Japan? The answer leads from Edo street food to aroma, etiquette, and the hard-to-translate idea of iki.
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.
Culture Gaps Why Japanese Omiyage Are More Than Souvenirs — A Nagasaki Sweet With a 400-Year Story
A Nagasaki sweet brought back to a Japanese office opens a window onto omiyage culture: regional classics, workplace sharing, and a wrapper carrying a 17th-century letter from exile.
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.