二十四節気
Ancestral Calendar
Nijūshi Sekki
Understanding time at the rhythm of life
Before the adoption of the modern calendar, Japan relied on an ancestral solar calendar called Koyomi, divided into 24 seasons: the Nijūshi Sekki.
Rather than four fixed seasons, the year unfolds into 24 periods of about fifteen days each, describing a precise and observable change. Each period is further divided into three micro-seasons, the kō, giving rise to 72 movements of life. A subtle rhythm that invites us to slow down, observe, and adjust our actions to the present moment.
1. Risshun (立春)
Beginning of Spring — February 4
Risshun marks the true Japanese New Year according to the traditional calendar. Even though the cold persists, the light changes and the energy of spring awakens beneath the surface.
Harukaze kōri wo tokuEast wind melts the ice (Feb. 4–8)
Uguisu nakuJapanese bush warbler starts singing (Feb. 9–13)
Uo kōri wo izuruFish emerge from the ice (Feb. 14–18)
2. Usui (雨水)
Snow becomes rain — February 19
The ice melts, snow turns to rain. Water begins to circulate again and prepares the land for future crops.
Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoruThe earth begins to moisten (Feb. 19–23)
Kasumi hajimete tanabikuMist begins to drift (Feb. 24–28)
Sōmoku mebae izuruPlants begin to sprout (Mar. 1–4)
3. Keichitsu (啓蟄)
Awakening of insects — March 6
Insects emerge from the ground after hibernation. Nature awakens, peach blossoms begin to bloom.
Sugomori mushi to wo hirakuInsects open their burrows (Mar. 6–10)
Momo hajimete sakuPeach trees begin to bloom (Mar. 11–14)
Namushi chō ni naruCaterpillars become butterflies (Mar. 15–20)
4. Shunbun (春分)
Spring Equinox — March 20
Day and night are equal. A period of balance between yin and yang.
Suzume hajimete su wo tsukuruSparrows begin to build nests (Mar. 20–24)
Sakura hajimete sakuCherry trees begin to bloom (Mar. 25–29)
Kaminari sunawachi koe wo hassuThunder begins to rumble (Mar. 30–Apr. 3)
5. Seimei (清明)
Clarity and Purity — April 5
The air becomes clear, the light intensifies. Nature fully enters spring.
Tsubame kitaruSwallows arrive (Apr. 5–9)
Kōgan kaeruWild geese return north (Apr. 10–14)
Niji hajimete arawaruRainbows appear (Apr. 15–19)
6. Kokuu (穀雨)
Nourishing Rains — April 20
Spring rains nourish the grains. The earth is ready to yield.
Ashi hajimete shōzuReeds begin to grow (Apr. 29–24)
Shimo yamite nae izuruFrost ceases, young shoots appear (Apr. 25–29)
Botan hana sakuPeonies bloom (Apr. 30–May 4)
7. Rikka (立夏)
Beginning of Summer — May 5
Vegetation becomes dense, energy accelerates.
Kawazu hajimete nakuFrogs begin to sing (May 5–9)
Mimizu izuruEarthworms emerge (May 10–14)
Takenoko shōzuBamboo shoots appear (May 15–20)
8. Shōman (小満)
Plants fill out — May 21
Growth is visible but not yet complete.
Kaiko okite kuwa wo hamuSilkworms eat mulberry leaves (May 21–25)
Benibana sakauSafflowers bloom (May 26–30)
Mugi no toki itaruWheat ripens (May 31–June 5)
9. Bōshu (芒種)
Sowing Time — June 6
Key period for planting rice.
Kamakiri shōzuPraying mantises are born (June 6–10)
Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naruFireflies appear from decaying grass (June 11–15)
Ume no mi kibamuPlums turn yellow (June 16–20)
10. Geshi (夏至)
Summer Solstice — June 21
The longest day of the year.
Natsukarekusa karuruSelf-heal withers (June 21–26)
Ayame hana sakuIrises bloom (June 27–July 1)
Hange shōzuThe crow-dipper plant appears (July 2–6)
11. Shōsho (小暑)
Rising Heat — July 7
The heat begins to set in.
Atsukaze kitaruHot winds arrive (July 7–11)
Hasu hajimete hirakuLotus flowers begin to open (July 12–16)
Taka sunawachi waza wo narauHawks learn to hunt (July 17–22)
12. Taisho (大暑)
Great Heat — July 23
Peak of summer.
Kiri hajimete hana wo musubuPaulownia trees form their buds (July 23–27)
Tsuchi uruōte mushi atsushiThe earth becomes heavy and humid (July 28–Aug. 1)
Taiu tokidoki furuHeavy rains fall intermittently (Aug. 2–6)
13. Risshū (立秋)
Beginning of Autumn — August 7
Autumn symbolically begins.
Ryōfū itaruCool winds arrive (Aug. 7–11)
Higurashi nakuEvening cicadas sing (Aug. 12–16)
Fukaki kiri matōThick mists rise (Aug. 17–22)
14. Shosho (処暑)
The heat subsides — August 23
The air becomes more breathable.
Wata no hana shibe hirakuCotton bolls open (Aug. 23–27)
Tenchi hajimete samushiThe heat retreats (Aug. 28–Sept. 1)
Kokumono sunawachi minoruGrains ripen (Sept. 2–6)
15. Hakuro (白露)
White Dew — September 7
Nights become cool.
Kusa no tsuyu shiroshiDew whitens the grass (Sept. 7–11)
Sekirei nakuWagtails sing (Sept. 12–16)
Tsubame saruSwallows depart (Sept. 17–22)
16. Shūbun (秋分)
Autumn Equinox — September 23
New balance.
Kaminari sunawachi koe wo osamuThunder ceases (Sept. 23–27)
Mushi kakurete to wo fusaguInsects hide (Sept. 28–Oct. 2)
Mizu hajimete karuruWaters dry up (Oct. 3–7)
17. Kanro (寒露)
Cold Dew — October 8
Humidity cools.
Kōgan kitaruWild geese arrive (Oct. 8–12)
Kiku no hana hirakuChrysanthemums bloom (Oct. 13–17)
Kirigirisu to ni ariCrickets sing near doors (Oct. 18–22)
18. Sōkō (霜降)
First Frost — October 23
Nature freezes little by little.
Shimo hajimete furuFrost appears (Oct. 23–27)
Kosame tokidoki furuLight rains fall (Oct. 28–Nov. 1)
Momiji tsuta kibamuLeaves turn yellow (Nov. 2–6)
19. Rittō (立冬)
Beginning of Winter — November 7
Energy retracts inward.
Tsubaki hajimete hirakuCamellias begin to bloom (Nov. 7–11)
Chi hajimete kōruThe earth begins to freeze (Nov. 12–16)
Kinsenka sakuCalendulas bloom (Nov. 17–21)
20. Shōsetsu (小雪)
First Snows — November 22
Winter gently sets in.
Niji kakurete miezuRainbows disappear (Nov. 22–26)
Kitakaze konoha wo harauNorth wind sweeps leaves away (Nov. 27–Dec. 1)
Tachibana hajimete kibamuTachibana oranges turn yellow (Dec. 2–6)
21. Taisetsu (大雪)
Heavy Snows — December 7
Winter silence settles.
Sora samuku fuyu to naruThe sky closes, winter sets in (Dec. 7–11)
Kuma ana ni komoruBears hibernate (Dec. 12–16)
Sake no uo muragaruSalmon gather (Dec. 17–21)
22. Tōji (冬至)
Winter Solstice — December 22
Yin reaches its maximum, Yang is reborn.
Natsukarekusa shōzuSelf-heal germinates (Dec. 22–26)
Sawashika no tsuno otsuruDeer shed their antlers (Dec. 27–31)
Yuki watarite mugi izuruWheat sprouts under the snow (Jan. 1–4)
23. Shōkan (小寒)
Minor Cold — January 5
The cold intensifies.
Seri sunawachi sakauParsley grows (Jan. 5–9)
Shimizu atataka wo fukumuSprings thaw (Jan. 10–14)
Kiji hajimete nakuPheasants begin to crow (Jan. 15–19)
24. Daikan (大寒)
Major Cold — January 20
The coldest point of the year.
Fuki no hana sakuButterbur flowers bloom (Jan. 20–24)
Sawamizu kōri tsumeruIce thickens on streams (Jan. 25–29)
Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsukuHens begin to brood (Jan. 30–Feb. 3)
Living in tune with the seasons
This calendar reminds us that nothing is static. By observing these 24 transitions, we learn to adjust our care, our diet, and our breath to stay in harmony with life.
