December
2024/12/31-2025/1/4 Wheat sprouts under snow
December 31st, 2024 – January 4th, 2025 is Winter – TOJI (Winter solstice)-66th KOU “Wheat sprouts under snow”
There is a little bit of snow, but not quite a lot. Last year and the year before that, warm winters continued. And the year before that, the wheat fields were covered in snow. This winter season may return to be normal cold.
Frost pillars often form at this time of year. In fact, the first frost fell on December 10th. They push up the roots of new sprouts, causing them to wither, so it is essential to press down on them from above and push the roots into the soil. This work is done with a roller attached to a tractor.
In the past, farmers did that by their own feet. It must have been a hard work to complete it all such a large wheat field.
*****
2024/12/26-12/30 Deer shed antlers
December 26th – December 30th is Winter – TOJI (Winter solstice)-65th KOU “Deer shed antlers”
You never see deer in the open areas around here, where there are many rice fields and farmland.
So, I went to the riverbank of the SAI to look for other creatures, not deer. There are trees and bushes, so it’s a good place for animals to live and hide.
I found lots of footprints. Did they all get together for a Christmas party? What look like deer footprints are the ones of wild boars. There are also fox footprints. Mmmmm…I don’t know names of another animals and birds.
I’ve encountered foxes five times this year (that’s many!). They disappeared while I was in a hurry to get my camera out. I wasn’t able to take the picture all five times😒
*****
2024/12/21-12/25 Self-heal sprouts
December 21st – December 25th is Winter – TOJI (Winter solstice)-64th KOU “Self-heal sprouts”
There is a certain plant that is said to sprout during this cold season, “NATSUKAREKUSA (Self-heal).
The meaning of “NATSU” is summer, “KARE” is withered, and “KUSA” is plants. So, this plant is said to wither at the summer solstice and then it sprouts at this season. Does that sound strange or wonderful at the time all of other plants have gone?
I went to the place where I found them in the summer. Yes, there are some green leaves, might be Self-heals.
Though I don’t think there’s any need for them to sprout when it’s this cold, it’s wonderful to think that they are a sign of early spring!
Today, December 21st, is the winter solstice. From now on, the daylight hours will gradually increase ^^♪
*****
2024/12/16-12/20 Salmon gather and swim upstream
December 16th – December 20th is Winter – TAISETSU (Greater snow) – 63rd KOU “Salmon gather and swim upstream”
The 63rd KOU depicts salmon that are born in a river, leave down to the sea, and then return to the river to spawn.
The CHIKUMA River and SAI River basins were once some of the leading salmon-producing areas in Japan.
The salmon traveled from NAGANO Prefecture through NIIGATA Prefecture down to the Sea of Japan, and then returned their home river at this time of year.
There have been no reports of salmon migrating upstream to the rivers recently, but in IIYAMA City, near the border between NIIGATA and NAGABO prefectures, citizens have released salmon fry into the CHIKUMA River.
I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Until then, bon voyage!
*****
2024/12/12-12/15 Bears start hibernating their dens
December 11th – December 15th is Winter – TAISETSU (Greater snow)-62nd KOU “Bears start hibernating in their dens”
After the first snow, it suddenly got cold. The minimum temperature was below freezing for several days, and the first ice of the year was also seen.
When the sky is clear like this morning, radiation cooling becomes stronger and the temperature near the ground drops.
According to the 62 KOU, this is the time when bears burrow into their dense and hibernate.
Some people may think it’s better to stay home on days like today, but the scenery and surrounding situations are about to change dramatically. It’s fun to experience them! It seems that bears are thinking the same thing. Even while hibernating, they sometimes come out of their dense on warm days.
NAGANO City is located in a basin at a high altitude and radiation cooling is likely to occur. So, fun things are coming much.
*****
2024/12/07-10 Cold sets in, winter begins
December 7th – December 10th is Winter – TAISETSU (Greater snow)-61th KOU “Cold sets in, winter begins”
It is December and now TAISETSU, which is the season of cloudy skies and snow falling.
This morning, the sleet from yesterday turned into snow. It is the first snowfall around here (southern Nagano city).
HOTOKENOZA (henbit) is blooming. It is a plant that sprouts in the fall, survives winter, and blooms in spring. They usually start blooming around the end of March in this area.
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the average temperature this fall was 1.97 ℃ higher than normal. Then it can’t be helped if they bloom at the wrong season.
The snow stopped before noon. The sky is still remaining overcast, though.
*****
2024/12/02-12/06 TACHIBANA citrus fruits start to turn yellow
December 2nd – December 6th is Winter – SHOSETSU (Lesser snow)-60th KOU “TACHIBANA citrus fruits start to turn yellow”
TACHIBANA, a citrus fruit native to Japan, grow in warm regions, so they are not seen in Shinshu region, where winter is harsh.
Today’s morning walk was to look for yellow fruits to replace them. A little bit long journey!
I was surprised to see UNSHU-MIKNAN (mandarin orange) in someone’s garden! It is also a plant that grows in warm regions. At another house, a potted KINKAN (kumquat) seedling is still outside, but a potted lemon tree has already been brought inside the house.
The most common fruit you can see around here is KAKI (persimmon). There are lots of orange KAKI here and there, might have been forgotten to be harvested. KARINE fruits shone golden in the morning sun. It must be hard to hold so many big ones on one branch.
Looking at these ripe fruits being ready to fall at any moment made me feel excited for some reason. I returned home feeling happy.
*****
November
2024/11/30 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: NOZAWANA-ZUKE (pickled NOZAWANA vegetable)
The season for NOZAWANA-ZUKE has arrived again this year.
The newspapers and television are full of stories about NOZAWANA-ZUKE. NOZAWANA vegetable picking tours also started in various places.
The highlight of supermarket vegetable festivals is NOZAWANA vegetables. They are often featured in newspaper flyers along with Christmas and New Year’s dishes. Yes, it’ a soul-food in SHINSHU.
A new NOZAWAVA OYAKI (pancake) will also be on sale soon.
*****
2024/11/27-12/01 North wind blows the leaves from the trees
November 27th – December 1st is Winter – SHOSETSU (Lesser snow)-59th KOU “North wind blows the leaves of the trees”
Strong winds blew all day yesterday (26th), blowing leaves into the air as in the 59th KOU.
By the way, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on November 7th that the “first KOGARASHI” had blown in the TOKYO area.
The first KOGARASHI is a north wind of 8 meters or more that blows for the first time from of the year, late autumn in mid-October to early winter in late November.
I couldn’t find the announcement in SHINSHU area, so I checked past weather data.
Hmm… there’s a lot of data that seems to fit the conditions in TOKYO even in the end of October. I wonder if the first KOGARASHI in SHINSHU area blew earlier than in the Tokyo area. The western winds blowing from the Japan Alps also bring cold to SHINSHU.
The HANAMIZUKI (flowering dogwood) in the garden has perfectly lost all its leaves, and MOZU (shrike) and ONAGA (Japanese blue magpie) are gathering to pick the red berries that have fallen to the ground.
*****
2024/11/22-11/26 Rainbows hide
November 22nd – November 26th is Winter – SHOSETSU (Lesser snow)-58th KOU “Rainbows hide“
The season SHOSETSU is starting to set in. Rain turns to sleet and snow, the sunshine weakens, and then rainbows become less common. For a rainbow to appear, rain and sunlight are necessary. The 58 th KOU describes such a weather in winter.
Surprisingly, a rainbow appeared!
The morning light coming from the beneath of clouds obscuring the sun looked into the thin layer of mist hung over the opposite mountainside – it might be perfect conditions for a rainbow. However, such conditions quickly broken and the rainbow disappeared soon.
Winter isn’t so bad if we can see winter rainbows like this sometime😉
*****
2024/11/17-11/21 Daffodils bloom
November 17th – November 21st is Winter – Ritto (Beginning of winter)-57th KOU “Daffodils bloom”
Daffodils are winter flowers, and some varieties (NIHON-ZUISEN) start blooming in mid-December.
However, here in SHINSHU, they are flowers welcoming spring, so we need to wait until spring to see the flowers. Though, they actually are preparing to bloom already. See the leaves emerging from the ground in a sunny spot!
I hope they will surely survive the harsh winter of SHINSHU and bloom in full in spring.
*****
2024/11/12-11/16 Land starts to freeze
November 12th – November 16th is Winter –RITTO (Beginning of winter)-56th KOU “Land starts to freeze”
The 56th KOU description sounds so winter! Especially, as NAGANO city is in a basin surrounded by high mountains, from now on “Radiational cooling” will become more likely to occur. And land surface will become colder and colder.
The first frost occurred on the 8th, and the first snow fell on the surrounding high mountains (SHIGA HEIGHTS, Mt. IIZUNA, Mt. TAKATSUMA, etc.).
Although it was a bit late, I harvested taro, which should have been done before the first frost. And I covered some vegetable with frost protection net, such as spinach, Chinese cabbage and others they still grow.
It was a lot of work, even though it was just a tiny kitchen garden. I managed to finish it while it was still warm during the day (^^♪
*****
2024/11/07 – 11/11 SAZANKA (Camellia sasanqua) blooms
November 7th – November 11th is Winter – RITTO (Beginning of winter)-55th KOU “SAZANKA (Camellia sasanqua) blooms”
According to the lunar calendar, winter begins today (RITTO). As expected, the temperature dropped to 5 ℃ this morning. I have started using the heaters, of course.
re dropped to 5degrees this morning. I started using the heaters, of course.
The SAZANKA along my usual walking course blooms much earlier than others. Some of the flowers have fallen. It’ a sign telling us beginning of winter.
*****
2024/11/02-11/06 Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow
November 2nd – November 6th, 2024 is Autumn – SOKO (Frost falls)-54th KOU “Maple leaves and ivy turn yellow. As we enter November, Route 54 tells us that it’s the season for watching autumn leaves.
Hmm…. but SATOYAMA (rural forest/mountain) around here haven’t changed color yet. It seems like it’s late compared to the last year’s. Is it because October was too hot?
The Nagano Regional Meteorological Observatory has announced, the average temperature in Nagano City in October was 3.1 degrees higher than normal, setting a new record.
The minimum temperature this morning was 13.6 degrees!!!! It is still warm for the leaves.
According to the website, it needs to be 8 degrees or less for the leaves to turn red.(https://tenki.jp/forecaster/deskpart/2022/11/04/20344.html#sub-title-a, in Japanese)
The minimum temperature tomorrow morning (Nov, 4th) is expected to be 8 degrees, and with a week weather forecast there will be many days that meet “that condition.”
Saturday and Sunday of this week will be the best to watch autumn leaves.
*****
2024/11/01 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: NEW SOBA (buckwheat noodle)
Just the season for new SOBA noodles.
We went to TOGAKUSHI (NAGANO City), where the TOGAKUSHI SOBA is well-known not only in SHINSHU but throughout all Japan.
And the SOBA served at a restaurant was made from special new SOBA powder that was for TOGAKUSHI shrines for appreciation of the good harvest this year and praying the next year’s production. It’s called KENNOU-SOBA.
We were back home not only with a full stomach, but also with a full spirit.
*****
October
2024/10/28-11/01 Light rains sometimes fall
October 28th –November 1st, 2024 is Autumn – SOKO (Frost falls)-53rd KOU “Light rains sometimes fall”
It has been raining lightly since this morning, as if the weather is just as expected with the SHICHIJYUNIKOU calendar. It’s drizzle in autumn.
In the 4th KOU of the calendar “Rain moistens the soil”, the frozen earth began to melt, and then in the 17th KOU “Last frost, rice seedling grow”, the frost melted, the grass and trees began to burn, and the agricultural work season began.
From now on, the seasons will move in the opposite direction. In autumn, the temperature drops by one degree with each rain.
The rice harvest ended over a month ago. Apples are coming in season. After that, we will harvest HAKUSAI (Chinese cabbage) and NOZAWANA (turnip greens), and then outdoor farm work finally is completed.
*****
2024/10/23-10/27 First frost
October 23rd – October 27th, 2024 is Autumn – SOKO (Frost falls)-52nd KOU “First frost.”
As the first frost usually occurs around mid-November around here (southern Nagano City), no frost anywhere. And surprisingly the temperature at 6 a.m. this morning was 20°C!!! The forecast of minimum temperature for the week from tomorrow to next week says it’s around 15°C. Of course, not cold enough to cause frost.
Actually, the first frost is one of the signs that tells me when to harvest autumn vegetables.
SATSUMAIMO (sweet potato) are best harvested before frost, so I have already finished harvesting them. It was much earlier than the frost forecasted in the SHICHIJYUNIKOU calendar. The best time for SATOIMO (taro) is just before the first frost. I have to keep an eye on the weather forecast once in every day since November arrives, right? And NOZAWANA (a specialty of Shinshu) is said to taste better if it is exposed to frost two or three times, so let’s leave it alone for a while.
The SHICHIJYUNIKOU calendar was used as a guide for agricultural work in the days when weather forecasts and meteorological information were not well developed. However, what if the weather continues to be very different from normal, as it was this morning?
*****
2024/10/18-10/22 Crickets chrp around the door
October 18th – October 22nd, 2024 is Autumn – KANRO (Cold dew)-51st KOU “Crickets chirp around the door.”
KANRO is coming to an end and it’s getting quite cool. The chirps of insects have become much quieter. It’s about time for them to stop chirping, isn’t it?
Of all the grasshoppers in my neighborhood, the most common one I can see until late autumn is crickets. However, even on a calm and warm day, they hide under fallen leaves and stay still, so it’s hard to find them right away. If I try to catch them, they’ll escape while turning the leaves over.
By the way, praying mantises make an appearance in my house several times every year, but I haven’t seen any this year.
In place of that? I found a praying mantis crossing the road. They don’t run away. Move quick or I can catch you ^o^/
*****
2024/10/13-10/17 Chrysanthemums bloom
October 13th – October17th, 2024 is Autumn –KANRO (Cold dew)-50th KOU “Chrysanthemums bloom.”
A family crest of the Japanese Royal family is designed KIKU (Chrysanthemums) in full-bloom. It is called KIKUKA-MON. As the use of the crest was allowed freely, it spread among general public and to various products in decorations such as decorations for Buddhist altars and other items of daily use.
Speaking of KIKUKA-MON, it is also painted in great numbers on the ceiling of the main hall of ZENKOJI Temple in Nagano City. (https://www.zenkoji.jp/about/jin/ https://www.zenkoji.jp/about/jin/)
KIKU in my kitchen garden, which are edible ones, are still in bud. They were in full bloom at the end of October last year, so there are just over two weeks left.
At that time, events such as chrysanthemum exhibitions start being held all across the country. Of course, in the ground of ZENKOJI Temple.
*****
2024/10/08-10/12 Wild geese return
October 8th – October 12th, 2024 is Autumn –KANRO (Cold dew)-49th KOU “Wild geese return.”
After the swallows return to warmer regions, winter birds arrive. In Shinshu, the swans at AZUMINO SWAN LAKE and GOHODEN-YUSUICHI are famous. The first arrival of them is usually after mid-October. (https://www.city.azumino.nagano.jp/soshiki/32/1032). Ducks come to the Sai River around here.
We are now in the season HAKURO (cold dew) of the 24 SEKKI based on the lunisolar calendar. It sounds very cold, but the temperature today is expected to be 19°C. It must be too hot for winter birds. In eastern Siberia where they come from and arrive in Japan, it seems that nowadays temperature can drop below 0°C in some places. (https://tenki.jp/world/1/145/28722/).
Maybe they have already left their summer resort and are taking a rest somewhere on the way to Japan♪
*****
2024/10/03-10/07 Farmers drain fields
October 3rd – October7th, 2024 is Autumn – SHUBUN (Autumn equinox)-47th KOU “Farmers drain fields.”
The rice harvest has almost been finished in the fields around here, actually there is an important task that must be done before the rice harvest. This is draining the water from the rice fields to dry out the soil. This makes it easier for people and machines to work on the fields.
In fact, since the 27th KOU “Thunder ceases,” I haven’t heard thunder roars and there has been almost no rain, it’s ideal for drying rice ears.
However I planted seeds of autumn vegetables in my kitchen garden, I hope it rains a little. But things aren’t always so easy, right?
*****
September
2024/09/28-10/02 Insects hole up underground
September 28th – October 2nd, 2024 is Autumn – SHUNBUN (Autumn equinox)-47th KOU “Insects hole up underground.”
The 46th KOU tells that summer insects have sensed approaching signs of autumn and are already preparing to burrow into the soil.
I found a grasshopper among grasses during walking. It looked very similar color to the surroundings, so it was a little difficult to find.
While I was working in the garden, a cricket and a frog appeared together ^^♪
Grasshoppers and crickets cannot survive winter. So, they lay eggs for next generation. Frogs burrow into the soil and hibernate.
The average daily temperature this week was 22°C. Enjoy the late summer more!
*****
2024/09/22-09/27 Thunder ceases
September 22nd – September 27th, 2024 is Autumn – SHUBUN (Autumn equinox)-46th KOU “Thunder ceases.”
It seems like there are fewer thunders around this time.
The description of the sound of thunder in the SEVENTYTWO calendar first appeared at the end of the Spring equinox, the 12th KOU from March 30th-April 3rd. It’s ”Distant thunder.”
I feel that thunder at this season is different from the one in summer.
On hot summer days, it often occurred in the near evening. Sky darkened locally, and then lightning flashed just nearby followed with the roar afterwards soon. Thunder at this season seems occur from late at night until dawn. The whole sky is lit. Maybe because lightning happens inside clouds. I can’t see any flashes itself, just hear a quiet rumbling somewhere far away for long.
It is said that if there are a lot thunder around the time rice plants are ripening, the harvest will be good. Rice harvesting is in full swing in this area right now!
*****
2024/09/17-09/21 Swallows leave
September 17th – September 21st, 2024 is Autumn – HAKURO (White dew)-45th KOU “Swallows leave.”
Swallows are birds spend summer in Japan. They lay eggs and raise their young.
Until recently, I have thought there were baby swallows in the nest, but now it’s empty. They no longer fly around here. Have they already left for warmer regions such as Southeast Asia to spend the winter?
In fact, they start migrating a little later, from the end of September to the beginning of October. Until then, parents and children spend time together in groups in reed fields on riverbeds.
Along the SAI riverbed, there are only a few reed bushes and no field, and it seems too small to support many swallows.
Swallows are ones that tell us seasons, appearing in early spring and disappearing in autumn. They often build their nests under eaves of our houses, so they are familiar birds to humans. Maybe that’s why they were selected as one of the SHICHIJYUNIKOU calendar.
*****
2024/09/12-09/16 Wagtails sing
September 12th – September 16th, 2024 is Autumn – HAKURO (White dew)-44th KOU “Wagtails sing.”
The wagtail appears in the KOJIKI (earliest historical records of Japan, compiled in 712 CE) and is a bird that has been loved in Japan since ancient times.
Its high-pitched, sharp chirp is a perfect match for the clear autumn skies of HAKURO season, or so I would like to say. But in fact, the daytime temperature has been anything but the season. Since HAKURO began, up until yesterday, it was all midsummer days (temperature over 30°C).
Perhaps because of that, I haven’t seen any wagtails on my usual walking course along the SAI River for the past few days.
Yesterday, a pair finally appeared!
When I get close, they move away a little, and when I get close again, they move away again, but they never run far. They walk right in front of me with the tails frequently flicking up and down, as if they are giving me instructions.
*****
2024/09/07-09/11 Dew glistens white on grass
September 7th – September 11th, 2024 is Autumn – HAKURO (White dew)-43rd KOU “Dew glistens white on grass.”
In the 24 SEKKI (Major divisions of the year), now it’s “HAKURO.” HAKU means white and “RO” is dew.
When the leaves of a plant are cooled below the dew point, the water vapor in the air condenses and forms tiny water droplets on the surface of the leaves as morning dew. The 43rd of the 72 seasons says that we are now in the season when the morning dew on the leaves glistens white.
It’s getting quite cool in the mornings. The temperature is at its lowest just before the sun rises. Have you ever slept with the window open and woken up wrapped in a blanket?
After “White Dew” comes “Autumnal Equinox Day,” when radiation cooling is more likely to occur in the Nagano Basin. Dew glistens white on “earth.”
*****
2024/09/02-09/06 Rice ripens
September 2nd – September 6th, 2024 is Autumn – SHOSHO (Manageable heat)-42nd KOU “Rice ripens.”
For Japanese, rice is a staple food. Not only is it a source of food, but it has also been deeply involved in the construction of Japanese culture and traditions.
I heard that rice has been in short supply and difficult to obtain in the past few weeks. They said that one of the reasons for this might be the increase in rice consumption due to the increase in foreign tourists.
Now you know how delicious Japanese rice is, don’t you (lol) It is nice that you can enjoy our culture with tasting the rice. Did you eat that much though?
By the way, a large typhoon hit Japan on August 29th. Fortunately, rice plants in the nearby fields were not damaged and is growing well. But we should not let our guard down. September is the month when typhoons make landfall the most.
New rice will probably be available from October in Nagano City. Let’s wait with an empty stomach!
*****
August
2024/08/28-09/01 Heat starts to die down
August 28th – September 1st, 2024 is Autumn – SHOSHO (Manageable heat)-41st KOU “Heat starts to die down.”
It’s SHOSHO (Manageable heat) of the 24 SEKKI (Major divisions) now, and SHICHIJYUNI-KOU describes that summer season ended.
Uhmmmm? Is that true?
Yes, it’s true that the scorching midsummer sunlight is gone. We have begun to hear the chirping of insects, telling us that summer is passing.
But I still feel tired of the heat of the summer lingers. Besides the heat, there may be several reasons of the tiring, such as heavy use of an air conditioning, traveling during OBON holiday, lots of summer-homework, tons of drinking so cool beer^^
What worries me is the impact that recent global warming will have on ecosystems and our life in the future. No one thought of this heat when the SHICHIJYUNI-KOU calendar was created. It may be meaningless to compare the present day with over 100 years ago. However, it would be great if we could find and enjoy the “signs” of the dedicate transition of seasons, forever.
*****
2024/08/22-08/27 Cotton bursts forth
August 22nd – August 27th, 2024 is Autumn – SHOSHO (Manageable heat)-40th KOU “Cotton bursts forth.”
This is the time when a capsule called a “boll” burst open and cotton (fiber) appears.
Cotton became extremely popular among the common people during the Edo era.
And also, it was a valuable material for making a winter outfit named “CHAN-CHANKO” that is a must item for the cold SHINSHU Region. People made such winter outfits by stuffing old clothes with cotton and silk floss taken from unsold silkworm cocoons.
Making “CHAN-CHANKO” is still popular, especially among craft enthusiasts.
It seems that cotton shops already existed in SHINANO (now NAGANO Prefecture) in the KEICHO era, shortly before the Edo era. There was a specialty product called “ZENKOJI cotton” in the HOKUSHIN Area.
*****
2024/08/17-08/21 Thick fog descendes
August 7th – August 11th, 2024 is Autumn – RISSHU (Beginning of autumn)-39th KOU “Thick fog descends.”
According to the 24 SEKKI (Major divisions), it’s RISSHU (beginning of autumn) and the SHICHIJYUNI-KOU tells that thick fog descends.
Even though the calendar is in autumn, it is still hot during the day and also at night. Sometimes I feel some winds are a little cool at dawn though, I can sleep with windows fully open still now.
Nagano City is located in a basin at high altitude where fogs/clouds are likely to occur due to re-evaporation of rain and radiation cooling. Mountains are covered in thin and thick fogs.
*****
2024/08/12-08/16 Evening cicadas sing
August 12th – August 16th, 2024 is Autumn – RISSHU (Beginning of autumn)-38th KOU “Evening cicadas sing.”
Hearing the chirps of evening cicadas makes me feel that summer is over and autumn is just around the corner especially when I hear them in the evening as their name suggests.
The KANJI name of evening cicadas involves not only evening, but also sunset or cool.Their transparent cries, which disappear as they are sucked into the sky, suit the quiet and pure atmosphere of shrines and temples.
It is now OBON season, and Japanese remember people in their family who have died.
On the evening of OBON, we light a MUKAEBI (welcoming fire) to welcome our ancestors. We decorate the Buddhist altar with a sacred horse and a sacred cow. Please come back from the heaven to your family as quickly as possible on the horse. And after spending together with the family, please slowly back on ride of the cow.
*****
2024/08/07-08/11 Cool breezes begin to blow
August 7th – August 11th, 2024 is Autumn – RISSHU (Beginning of autumn)-37th KOU “Cool breezes begin to blow.”
I had a chance to visit KIRIGAMINE Highlands (SUWA City, NAGANO Prefecture) for work.
According to the KIRIGAMINE-KOGEN HP, “The KIRIGAMINE KOGEN (highland) is 1,600 meters above sea level, and its average temperature in August is 19.8°C. At dawn, rising air currents carry air rich in water vapor from Lake SUWA to the highland. The temperature drops by 0.6°C for every 100 meters it rises, so at KIRIGAMINE, which is 1,000 meters higher than the lake, the temperature is 6°C lower than on the lake area. As a result, the rapidly cooled water vapor condenses, creating fog.” Fog is called “KIRI” in Japanese and it is the origin of the name of the highland. After the visit KIRIGAMINE Highlands, we also dropped by Lake SUWA, so I understood this explanation very well.
I returned to Nagano City (350 m above sea level), wondering if it must be about 2 degrees cooler than areas near the coast as TOKYO.
However, it’s hot after all.
*****
2024/08/02-08/06 Great rains sometimes fall
August 2nd – August 6th, 2024 is NATSU (Summer) – TAISHO (Greater heat) – 36th KOU “Great rains sometimes fall.”
It’s summer time! Cumulonimbus clouds appear and rain suddenly falls, but then it stops immediately.
In HAIKU, there are many KIGO (seasonal word) for rain. KIGO for the Greater heat is “SHUU (a sudden heavy rain)”. A famous HAIKU poet, YAMAGUCHI SEISHI wrote,
CHIKATETSUDO,
SHUU NI NURESHI,
HITO NORIKURU
means that “Riding along the subway, soaked by the sudden rain SHUU, a guy rushed onto the train.”
It would be fine if it only occurred to the extent that it was written about in haiku, but heavy rain can sometimes cause landslides and floods. Nagano Prefecture, due to its topography, is said to be prone to landslides and floods caused by rain.
Yesterday, even though it was sunny, the water in the SAI river was murky and soil-colored.
This is because rain that fell in the upper area such as in theJapan Alps, MATSUMOTO and AZUMINO areas reached at NAGANO area after a certain amount of time. In some places, the riverbanks are steep mountain slopes, which can collect even more rain and sediment.
The length of the SAI river basin is over 100 km all the way to NAGANO. It is amazing how powerful nature is, as weather such long away can affect other areas.
*****
July
2024/07/27-08/01 Earth is damp, air is humid
July 27th – August 1st, 2024 is Summer – TAISHO (Greater heat)-35th KOU “Earth is damp, air is humid.”
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the rainy season ended in Nagano Prefecture (July 18th), one day earlier than average and four days earlier than last year. That said, there are still few days saying the summer sky of SHINSHU.
Yesterday was a long-awaited sunny day, but there was a thunder from the evening to midnight. We are gradually heading towards summer weather.
My usual morning walk was with feeling the soft earth. And the bottom of my jeans got wet also.
*****
2024/07/22-07/26 Paulownia trees produce buds
July 22nd – July 26th, 2024 is Summer – TAISHO (Greater heat)-34th KOU “Paulownia trees produce buds.”
Paulownia flowers bloom around May, it is before new leaves appear. Now is the time when green fruits grow larger and larger. Surprisingly, the flower buds also begin to appear at the same time. Paulownia trees are already preparing for next year’s flowers. Don’t you think it’s amazing?
It’s very smart that SHICHIJYUNIKOU Calendar has taken up this mysterious ecology of paulownia tree! Ordinary people can only worry about whether these new shoots will be able to survive the hot summers and harsh winters of the HOKUSHIN area.
Paulownia wood is light and has excellent moisture-regulating properties, so it has been widely used for commoners’ items such as chests, wooden clogs (GETA), and storage boxes. Paulownia GETA made in SAKAE Village, NAGANO Prefecture, are designated as a craft by the NAGANO Prefectural Governor.
SAKAE Village is located in the northernmost part of NAGANO Prefecture and is the area that receives the most snow. Even in such a harsh environment, the sprouts can grow well.
As mentioned above, while paulownia products have been popular among the common people, they were also favored by the nobility. Even today, it is still considered noble items, such as the coat of arms of the Japanese government.
Paulownia is a really amazing tree, isn’t it?
*****
2024/07/17-07/21 Hawks learn to fly
July 17th – July 21st, 2024 is Summer – SHOSHO (Lesser heat)-33rd KOU “Hawks learn to fly.”
It’s just the time when young hawks learn to fly. This is the season when not only hawks but all living creatures prepare to leave the nest, so why are only hawks picked in the lunisolar calendar?
Hawks have been loved by Japanese since ancient times. They appear in many proverbs and legends such as “Mount FUJI is the first, a hawk the second, and an eggplant the third” which means if you have them in your first dream of the new year, you will be happy in the year.
SAMURAI lords in the EDO era in Japan or kings around the world enjoyed falconry. At the time, falconry was more of a form of political entertainment or sport than a means of securing food.
The lord of the MASTUSHIRO Domain (present MATSUSHIRO Town, NAGANO City), SANADA NOBUYUKI, was also fond of falconry. To commemorate this, a falconry event is held almost every year at MATSUSHIRO Castle (the photo is a little old in 2019).
Speaking of eggplants, they’ve started to be harvested in my kitchen garden too 😉
*****
2024/07/12-07/16 First HASU (lotus) blossoms
July 12th – July 16th, 2024 is Summer – SHOSHO (Lesser heat)-32nd KOU “First HASU (lotus) blossoms.”
There is a pond at the entrance to DAIKANJIN, a part of ZENKOJI Temple. This year, Lotuses have bloomed in large flowers again this year. It is a type of ancient lotus called OHGA-HASU, named after Dr. OHGA who discovered the seed and cultivated.
In Buddhism, HASU have been loved as a flower of paradise.
The buds slowly open with the sunrise and close before noon, so the best time to see them in full bloom is between 7:00 and 9:00 in the morning.
Every morning at ZENKOJI Temple, a memorial service called “OASA-JI” is held, in which all the monks of the temple participate. The service begins with sunrise, and after the sutra reading, “OJUZU-CHODAI” is held. Series of the morning service end around 7:00.
After that, why not take a leisurely stroll to the lotus pond. The OHGA-HASU will welcome the worshippers with the flowers in full bloom.
*****
2024/07/06-07/11 Warm winds blow
July 6th – July 11th, 2024 is Summer – SHOSHO (Lesser heat)-31st KOU “Warm winds blow.”
It means “Now in the season SHOSHO (lesser hot). A refreshing southerly wind that feels just warm blows,” …… but in the HOKUSHIN area, the humidity of the rainy season continues. It’s stuffy more than refreshing. The rainy season is expected to end around July 22.
This year’s rain-falling isn’t a continuous drizzle all day. It rains a little harder from the late evening or midnight to dawn, and the weather is sunny during the day.
The vegetables in my kitchen garden seem to be happy with this weather. They have been growing rapidly in the past few days. The grass around them is also growing, so I weeded them about an hour. Though the work was done early in the morning, I was covered in sweat.
*****
2024/07/01-07/05 HANGE (Crow-dipper) sprouts
July 1st- July 5th, 2024 is Summer – GESHI (Summer solstice)-30th KOU “HANGE (Crow-dipper, Pinellia ternate ) sprouts.”
The rainy season is in full swing in the HOKUSHIN are.
Until the end of June, farmers continued to make ridges for rice paddies, prepare seedlings, and plant rice. Some farmers practice double cropping, so they were busy planting rice after harvesting wheat or onions. They also did sericulture in the past. Works at he rainy season as we head into early summer makes them feel even more tired.
At times like these, it’s nice to take a break from farm work. The 30th KOU lets us know the time.
It has the meaning that you should finish rice planting before “HANGE sprouts” and relax for a while, and also should take nutritious foods such as octopus, mackerel and noodles to build up strength for the harsh summer ahead.
Come to think of it, the 72 KOU phases for this time of year are full of healthy ingredients and medicinal herbs such as “UME”, “NATSUKAREGUSA”, and “HANGE”.
*****
June
2024/06/26-06/30 HANASHOBU (Irises) bloom
June 26th- June 30th, 2024 is Summer – GESHI (Summer solstice)-29th KOU “HANASHOBU (Irises ) bloom.”
The English name for HANASHOBU is iris sanguinea, but a species of iris endemic to Japan.
Perhaps for this reason, it has been loved by Japanese people since old days, and lots of attempts were made to improve it during the Edo period. It is said that there are an astounding 5,000 different combinations of flower colors and shapes. (Reference https://tokyoiris.com 東京花菖蒲会 in Japanese)
The rainy season began in the HOKUSHIN area on June 21. HANASHOBU in the rain, how elegant! But perhaps due to the record heat that continued through May and June, most of the flowers have already finished blooming.
*****
2024/06/21-06/25 Self-heal withers
June 21st- June 25th, 2024 is Summer – GESHI (Summer solstice)-28th KOU “Self-heal withers.”
We are currently in the summer solstice, one of the 24 solar terms. This is the time when the days are the longest in the year, but there is a certain plant describing “wither” during this time.
It’s UTSUBO-GUSA (Self-heal) which old name is NASUKARE-GUSA (Summer withering plant).
I climbed SATOYAMA (rural small mountain/forest) where I found it by chance last year.
Yes, they welcomed me again!
The process of “self-heal withes” could be seen. Fresh flowers are bright dark purple. When the flowers wilt and wither, they turn brown and fall off. And what looks like a brown stick is a withered spike of the self-heal.
Self-heals have been used as herbal medicines. The timing of picking is important for making good medicine. So, the 28th KOU may be telling us not to miss the best time to pluck them.
*****
2024/06/16-06/20 UME (Japanese apricot) turns yellow
June 16th- June 20th, 2024 is Summer – BOSHU (Grain bears and seeds)-27th KOU “UME turns yellow.”
Right now, it’s the season when green UME fruit ripens and turns yellow. This is also the rainy season, known as BAI-U, where BAI means UME and U is rain. However, this year’s BAI-U season is predicted to start around June 20th (about 12 days later than last year).
June 6th is apparently “UME Day.” I didn’t know that.
It’s going to get increasingly hot and humid from now on. Moreover, there are no national holidays in June. That’s tiring. Let’s take UMEBOSHI (pickled (brined) UME fruits) and UME wine to cheer ourselves up and stay healthy.
SHINSHU-SHINMACHI in the west of NAGANO City is the largest producer of KO- UME in the HOKUSHIN area. They sell SHINSHU-SHINMACHI special UME wine!
*****
2024/06/10-06/15 Rotten grass becomes fireflies
June 10th- June 15th, 2024 is Summer – BOSHU (Grain beards and seeds)-26th KOU “Rotten grass becomes fireflies.”
It’s time for fireflies (HOTARU) to fly around. HOTARU has another name “Rotten grass.” But why does rotten grass turn into fireflies.
Firefly larvae that emerge from the water on land grow into adults in holes dug in the soil. They then crawl out of the holes and wander around the nearby grass.
The Edo people who saw the fireflies crawling out may have believed that “rotten grass turns into fireflies.” In a sense, the Edo people were good at observing nature.
In mid-April, there is an elementary school where firefly larvae are released into the stream that runs through the schoolyard. So yesterday (June 11th), I went to check on them.
I was lucky to find “one” firefly that was glowing. According to a man who came to see the fireflies like me, “fireflies often come out after it rains.”
Yesterday in Nagano City, the maximum temperature was 30°C and the humidity was 31%. Today’s forecast is over 30°C, and we will have to wait until the 16th for the rain to come.
Around here, rice planting is almost over. Both the rice field and the rotten grass are looking forward to the rain.
*****
2024/06/05-06/09 Praying mantises hatch
June 5th- June 9th, 2024 is Summer – BOSHU (Grain beards and seeds)-25th KOU “Praying mantises hatch.” Mantises are also called as praying mantises, because their upright posture with forearms crossed makes it look like it is praying.
It’s time when the baby mantises are born.
I found a mantis egg sac while walking. It seems that the babies have already been born about a week earlier than the 25th KOU’s seasonal description. They are beneficial insects that eat aphids. Come to my vegetable garden, please.
We are currently in the “BOSHU” term of the 24 SEKKI that divides one year into 24 seasonal terms. BOSHU refers to thorns that grow on husks of rice and wheat. Right now is the time to sow grain seeds, and in Japan it is the time to plant rice seedlings.
Here in the southern part of Nagano City, rice planting has finally begun, about three weeks later than in OMACHI and HAKUBA areas.
*****
2024/06/05 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: HIYASHI-CHUKA
Banners and posters advertising chilled Chinese noodles are now seen here and there. They make me feel that summer is approaching.
HIYASHI-CHUKA is a chilled Japanese dish with Chinese noodles and various toppings. Popular toppings for it are egg crape strips, cucumber, ham and tomato.
And the 24th KOU (May 31st – June 4th) was “Wheat ripens and is harvested.” Noodles made with freshly harvested wheat must be delicious.
ZARU-SOBA is a staple noodle in SHINSHU region, but HIYASHI-CHUKA is also a must-have at this time of year. It is a seasonal limited dish.
*****
May
2024/05/31-06/04 Wheat ripens and is harvested
May 31st- June 4th, 2024 is Summer – SHOMAN (Lesser ripening) -24th KOU “Wheat ripens and is harvested.”
The wheat seeds sown in the fall are now ready to be harvested. Some people call this time of year “Wheat-autumn” after the autumn of rice harvest season.
Wheat was cultivated as a second crop after rice harvest, but recently it seems that an increasing number of farmers are cultivating wheat as a replacement for rice.
Nagano Prefecture grows its own varieties of wheat, such as YUMESEIKI, HANAMANTEN, and YUMEKAORI, which have formed a unique food culture of Nagano.
In the HOKUSHIN area, “OYAKI” (a baked/fried round wheat cake with various fillings) and “OSHIBORI-UDON” (Japanese noodle with squeezed juice of a Japanese radish) are very popular traditional local foods.
*****
2024/05/26-05/30 Safflowers (BENIBANA) bloom
May 26th- 30th, 2024 is Summer – SHOMAN (Lesser ripening) -23rd KOU “Safflowers (BENIBANA) bloom”.
Unfortunately, safflowers are not cultivated in the HOKUSHIN area, so I sowed seeds this year as well. The seed packet says, in cold regions such as the HOKUSHIN area, safflowers bloom from July to August. We have to wait about two months for the safflower to bloom.
So, which region is the 23rd KOU ” Safflowers bloom” referring to?
According to the report titled “Safflower Cultivation in the BUSHU Region” (Masashi Kurosu, Shinano, Vol. 31, No. 31, PP23-33, 1979), “Safflowers were already being cultivated in the SAGAMI, KAZUSA and SHIMOUSA areas where were around EDO district. The seeds were sown in autumn and the flowers bloom in May of the following year.”
Many of the descriptions in the 72- KOU are based on the “RYAKUREKIHON” compiled in 1897 when just after EDO era was finished.
That is to say, the 23rd KOU ” Safflowers bloom” seems to describe the cultivation and production of safflowers that took place around Edo district during the Edo era.
*****
2024/05/20-05/25 Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves
May 20th- 25th, 2024 is Summer – SHOMAN (Lesser ripening) -22nd KOU “Silkworms start feasting on mulberry leaves”.
SHOMAN is one of the 24 solar terms. It’s the season when all things gradually grow and begin to the heavens and the earth. Silkworms are no exception. They are very busy eating mulberry leaves and are getting bigger and bigger.
The cocoons of silkworms produce beautiful silk thread and it was a valuable source of income for farmers. So, they actively bred silkworms with great care until around the 1960s.
When synthetic fibers became mainstream after around 1970, silkworms were no longer bred and then mulberries were no longer cultivated.
Since around 1970, when synthetic fibers became mainstream, silkworm farming has declined and mulberry cultivation has ceased.
However, in recent years, research has been underway to effectively utilize new species of silkworms as producers of biomaterials for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other products. Furthermore, mulberries and leaves are becoming increasingly popular as functional foods and ingredients.
*****
2024/05/19 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: TAKENOKO-JIRU (Bamboo shoot MISO soup)
The time has come for soul food at the HOKUSHIN area of SHINSHU. It’s TAKENOKO-JIRU, where TAKENOKO is a bamboo-shoot and JIRU (or SHIRU) is a soup.
TAKENOKO-JIRU is a kind of miso soup by simmering young shoots of NEMAGARIDAKE bamboo and canned mackerel together. Some families cook to bind them with eggs. Each family has its own way.
Several IZAKAYAs (Japanese-style pub) in Nagano City also serve “YAKI-NEMAGARIDAKE,” which is simply grilled with the bamboo skin still on.
Both cuisines are available only at HOKUSHIN area at this time of year.
*****
2024/05/15-05/19 Bamboo shoots sprout
May 15th- 19th, 2024 is Summer – RIKKA (Beginning of summer) -21st KOU “Bamboo shoots sprout.”
Bamboo shoots are popular food in Japan. Eat the soft tips that just emerge from the soil. Please give the thick and hard parts to the pandas (lol)
The type of bamboo shoots that can be harvested at this time of year in the HOKUSHIN area is HACHIKU. My favorite is simmered HACHIKU with dried HOTARUIKA (firefly squid). It’s exquisite! It also goes well with Japanese SAKE.
*****
2024/05/10-05/14 Worms surface
May 10th- 14th, 2024 is Summer – RIKKA (Beginning of summer) -20th KOU “Worms surface”.
It’s almost time for earthworms to start wriggling the soil though…
The difference in maximum temperature for several days from the 5th, when RIKKA began, was 15 degrees. The highest temperature today was 26 degrees and the lowest one was 3 degrees. The difference today was 23 degrees! A late frost warning has also been issued. Their activities are currently on hiatus, isn’t it.
On a relatively calm day in late April, I was plowing my vegetable garden and then a bird followed me. They were targeting earthworms and insects in the soil dug.
A white wagtail appeared this year, it’s rare in my garden.
According to Wikipedia, “Wagtails are not very wary of humans and will come relatively close to humans (about 2 to 3 meters).” I see.
Plowing completed! Planting of vegetable seedlings has also been completed！
*****
2024/05/10 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: YUKIGATA (Shape of the lingering snow on a mountainside)
YUKIGATA; YUKI is snow and GATA is shape or figure.
When the snow that covered the mountain surface begins to melt, the contrast between the white of the snow and the blue-black on the mountain surface creates a unique pattern. They can also look like people, animals, or agricultural tools. In the old days when there were no weather forecasts, changes in the shape served as a good guide for farming.
This year again, I went to the Japan Alps to see YUKIGATA.
As we entered May, there were days when the temperature changed drastically, and I was looking forward to seeing what this year would be like. Almost the same, isn’t it. If you closely look at the mountain surface in the foreground, it looks about midway among 2022 and 2023.
Rice seedlings seem to be growing more smoothly than usual. The planting is earlier here than in my area (the southern part of Nagano City).
*****
2024/05/05/-05/09 Frogs start singing
May 5th- 9th, 2024 is Summer – RIKKA(Beginning of summer) -19th KOU “Frog start singing”.
In the lunisolar calendar, it is the first day of summer. It’s getting hot after all. The temperature was 30℃ on the 4th and 33℃ on the 5th (this year’s highest temperature).
The usual plant nursery center has finally opened, and I planted the vegetable seedlings I bought yesterday. It was very hot during the day, so I planted them in the evening, but I was still drenched in sweat.
The KOU (72 microseasons) is now in “Frog season.”
This frog is probably AMAGAERU (Japanese train frog). From around May, when rice fields are filled with water to plant rice seedlings and spawning areas are created, male frogs send love calls to female frogs in order to breed.
There is still no water in rice fields in the HOKUSHIN area. Because the water temperature is still a little low. We have to wait a little longer until hearing their voice coming from the rice fields.
I went to the swamp where I had found the egg of a frog (probably NIHON-AKAGAERU (Japanese brown egg)). I couldn’t find the frog, but voice of singing, singing, singing.
They lay eggs in early spring (I found them on March 3rd). So, it doesn’t seem like they sing for breeding, right?
Wild warblers, pheasants, and many other birds whose names I don’t know were also singing together.
*****
April
2024/04/30-05/04 Peonies bloom
April 30th-May 4th, 2024 is Spring-KOKUU -18th KOU “Peonies bloom”.
It’s cloudy and humid this morning. The temperature has risen to 29 ℃ over the past few days, and hoping the blessing of rain called “KOKUU (Grain rains).”
I went to KOSENJI Temple (WAKAHO, NAGANO City), which is popularly known as the “Peony Temple.” It seems that the blooming of flowers is delayed overall compared to last year.
Still, cabbage butterflies and black swallowtail butterflies were actively flying around the flowers, and I could hear the sounds of bush warblers coming from the mountain opposite.
*****
2024/04/25-04/29 Last frost, rice seedlings grow
April 25th-April 29th, 2024 is Spring-KOKUU -17th KOU “Last frost, rice seedlings grow”.
The temperature has settled down to a high of around 25 degrees and a low of around 14 degrees, much hotter than usual (on par with late May to mid-June).
Peach flowers that started blooming after the plum, apricot, and cherry blossoms have all disappeared. All that’s left to do is wait for the fruit to grow smoothly, but even though it’s called “Last frost” is still a concern.
The field peas that survived the winter are doing well. Add some rice straws to protect against frost and to help the vines wrap around and grow well. It looks like we will be able to harvest them after the holidays.
*In agriculture, rice straw can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used not only as a fertilizer, but also as a heat retention, moisturizing, and sun-heat protection.
*****
2024/04/19-04/24 First reeds sprout
April 19th-April 24th, 2024 is Spring-KOKUU(Grain rains) -16th KOU “First reeds sprout”.
The season now is in KOKUU (Grain rains), one of the 24 divided solar terms.
KOKUU is warm rain in the spring. It is a blessing rain promising future growth for all the plants that have just sprouted.
The first term of the KOKUU is “First reeds sprout”. But look at them, the old reeds are falling down and only a little green around the area. It rained heavily a few days ago. Probably because the swollen SAI river water has entered this area.
On the other hand, the soil that flows in brings nutrients (as we learned from the old Nile floods (lol)). Now getting water and nutrition, then new growth begins!
*****
2024/04/14-04/18 First rainbows
April 14th-April 18th, 2024 is Spring-SEIMEI -15th KOU “First rainbows”. It means the time when the first rainbow appears after the spring rains.
The highest temperature in Nagano City yesterday rose to 26 ℃. Perhaps as a reaction to that, this morning’s weather forecast is for rain with an umbrella symbol.
Rain is necessary for a rainbow to appear. Light rain has started while I was out walking, luckily? So I turned my back to the sun and wait the appearance…… it didn’t come out. It only rained enough to leave several traces of raindrops on stones.
About a week ago, I found a rainbow. The bicycle’s reflective plate made it.
*****
2024/04/09-04/13 Wild geese fly north
April 9th-April 13th 2024 is Spring-SEIMEI -14th KOU “Wild geese fly north”.
The season now in SEIMEI (Pure and clear), one of the 24 divided solar terms, meaning all things are fresh, bright and beautiful.
SEIMEI is a word that truly describes the HOKUSHIN area at this time. Trees will become greener and greener under the clear blue sky with the mild sunshine.
Now, contrary to the 13 KOU “Swallows return”, there are birds leaving Shinshu as the 14 KOU “Wild geese fly north” during these beautiful days. Perhaps because the maximum temperature continued to exceed 20 degrees Celsius, it seems that some of the birds that overwintered in SAI River have already flown north. The number have decreased compared to February.
It seems that the only ones left are spot-billed ducks, but they are not here in the summer. No matter what I check, it is written that spot-billed ducks are resident birds and do not migrate. Maybe a super short distance migration to a nearby pond or rice field B^D
Anyway, just remember that it’s time to leave “this” area.
*****
2024/04/04-04/08 Swallowes return
April 4th-April 8th, 2024 is Spring-SEIMEI (Pure and clear)-13th KOU “Swallows return”
Welcome back again, swallows！
Actually, the first time I found a swallow this year was on March 28th. It was almost the same day as last year (March 31, 2023). It might be the same swallow I saw last year. You have returned to your own nest, right?
It’s getting warmer, the sunshine is milder, and mall winged insects are flying which are food for swallows. Yes, it’s the season “Swallows return.”
And every year around this time, spring-rain falls. For the past few days, I woke up in the morning and noticed that the road was wet. Spring rain provides moist soil for swallows to build nests. After all, it is the season “Swallows return.”
*****
March
2024/03/30-04/03 Distant thunder
March 30th-April 3rd, 2024 is Spring-SHUNBUN (Spring equinox)-12th KOU “Distant thunder”.
It’s the season when you can hear the sound of thunder in the distance.
The average temperature in Nagano City has finally reached double digits (over 10℃). And today’s high temperature is expected to be 19 ℃, similar to May.
Such sudden temperature changes can cause lightning. And there may be hail. This is a big concern for farmers. In fact, the hail that fell on May 15th last year caused major damage to crops.
On the other hand, Spring-thunder brings the rain that will be a blessing for plants that have just sprouted.
Hope it continues the mild days without any problems.
*****
2024/03/25-03/29 First cherry blossoms
March 25th-March 29th, 2024 is Spring-SHUBUN (Spring equinox)-11th KOU “First cherry blossoms”.
The cherry blossom forecast in Nagano City has been announced. It’s April 5th..
Since February was warmer than usual, I thought that it would bloom earlier. However, March was colder than usual.
It would be better to call this period “First apricot blossoms”. We received a notice about the “Apricot Festival” from CHIKUMA City.
After apricots bloom, cherry follows.
第69回『あんずまつり』開催🌸 | 信州千曲観光局 (chikuma-kanko.com)
*****
2024/03/20-03/24 Sparrows start nest
March 20th-March 24th, 2024 is Spring-SHUNBUN (Spring equinox)-10th KOU “Sparrows start nest”.
The season goes forward and SHUNBUN (Spring equinox), one of the 24 divided solar terms, has begun today.
The first KOU of SHUNBUN is about a sparrow building a nest.
Sparrows usually act in flocks of 10 or more, but recently they are often seen in pairs. I could see that they went in and out under the eaves carrying straw and ears of pampas grass. The baby sparrows seem to show their faces after mid-April at the earliest.
Spring makes us feel the cycle of life.
*****
2024/03/15-03/19 Caterpillars become butterflies
March 15th-March 19th, 2024 is Spring-KEICHITSU-9th KOU “Caterpillars become butterflies”.
The 9th KOU represents joy that spring has lastly arrived. Caterpillars changed to a pupa and finally turned into butterflies in Spring. Butterflies flying are letting us know that it’s spring now. Butterflies here usually refer to MONSHIROCHO (small white/cabbage white).
It’s been warm for the past few days, but I haven’t seen them around here yet. Rape flowers that MONSHIROCHO love also haven’t bloomed. Maybe about another week.
I found HIODOSHICHOU (yellow-legged tortoiseshell) in SATOYAMA (a woodland near a village). It is a butterfly that overwinters as an adult, so its nuances are slightly different from the KOU’s description. But the flying gives us joy that spring has arrived is the same.
*****
2024/03/10-03/14 First peach blossoms
March 10th-March 14th, 2024 is Spring-KEICHITSU (Insects awaken)-8th KOU “First peach blooms”.
It looks like it will be a long time before peach blossoms bloom in the HOKUSHIN area. There are no buds yet and the blooming is usually from early to mid-April. And although we will have to wait until the end of July for the peaches to ripen, just imagining a “big and round pink peach” brings a smile to your face 💛 (The word of ”bloom” is “SAKU” in Japanese and “SAKU” also means “to make people laugh”, actually.)
At this time of year, it’s not peaches but plums. So “First plum blossoms.” After plum blossoms, apricots and cherry, and finally peach blossoms.
*****
2024/03/05-03/09 Hibernating insects surface
March 5th-March 9th, 2024 is Spring-KEICHITSU (Insects awaken)-6th KOU “Hibernating insects surface”
I was hoping that it would get warmer in March, but it’s still so cold that it feels like we’re back in winter. In this cold weather, are there any insects that have woken up from hibernation like the 6th KOU tells?
On March 3rd, I found clumps of frog eggs (probably NIHON-AKAGAERU (Japanese brown frog)) at the same place as last year. They were transparent and jiggling, so it didn’t seem that much time has passed since they were spawned. When did the parent frogs wake up from hibernation and lay eggs?
The temperature on March 1st was a maximum of 9.1℃/minimum 0.23℃, on the 2nd it was 2.6℃/-3.6℃, and in the early morning of the 3rd it was -5℃. It is said that they often spawn after it rains. March 1st was a day of sleet and rain, so it might be THAT DAY！ After spawning, they hibernate again until it gets warmer：―Z
*****
February
2024/02/29-03/04 Grass sprouts, trees bud
February 29th-March 4th, 2024 is Spring-USUI (Rainwater)-6th KOU “Grass sprouts, trees bud”
It’s March from today. I would like to say that plants are about to start sprouting, but it snowed this morning. KUSAYOSHI (reed canary grass), which has finally started to grow its leaves, is covered in snow.
Today’s snow is called “KAMIYUKI.” It snows more in the NANSHIN (southern SHINSHU) region (around SUWA, KAMIINA, and MINAMISHINSHU) in NAGANO Prefecture than in the HOKUSHIN (northern SHINSHU) region (around NAGANO, SUZAKA, and IIYAMA). Usually, it’s the other way around.
Some people say that a full-fledged spring will come after KAMIYUKI. I feel like there might be another KAMIYUKI. So, every year at this time, I wonder when to change tires of my car.
*****
February
2024/02/24-02/28 KASUMI (Spring haze) starts to linger
The 5th KOU represents the time when the “KASUMI” lingers and distant scenery becomes vaguely visible. However, it has been cold days and rainy days for the past few days, and this morning there was sleet. It’s not spring weather yet.
There is a mountain castle named “KASUMI” in the OMURO district of MATSUSHIRO-town, NAGANO City. The information board says, ”When the enemy attacked, the castle was covered in haze and hidden.”
IIZUNA town in the HOKUSHIN area is a place where peach production is popular. There is a place named “TANKAKYO”. TAN means red (or red earth), KA is a short form of KASUMI (spring haze) and KYO is a village. TANKAKYOU is the place where peaches’ red blossoms cover the entire area and it looks like a spring haze. There is still more than a month until the peaches bloom. Let’s look forward to it.
*****
2024/02/19-02/23 Rain moistens the soil
February 19th-February 23rd, 2024 is Spring-USUI (Rainwater)-4th KOU “Rain moistures the soil.” It means that the soil will be moistened by rain instead of snow.
The soil in my vegetable garden seems to be getting wetter by the rain last weekend. That is a signal to start farming, isn’t it.
However, the spring weather in the HOKUSHIN region repeats normal-cold days and warm days (19 ℃ on the 15th, 18 ℃ on the 18th, and 20℃ on the 19th (in a normal year, the temperature is the same as in April ! ), and the weather forecast says it will snow this weekend and next week.
The field peas I sowed in early winter have sprouted and grown. I did some weeding around them.
*****
2024/02/14-02/18 Fish emerge from the ice
February 14th-February 18th, 2024 is Spring-RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-3rd KOU “Fish emerge from the ice” The thick ice is gradually melting. Then fish emerge from the ice.
When I approached the carp in the agricultural pond to take a photo, they quickly ran away to hide under the ice again.
On the other hand, the carp in the pond of the sightseeing place approached me by themselves to beg for food. They are not shy ^^ It’s like they were waiting for the ice to melt in spring.
Due to the unseasonably warm weather yesterday (14℃), very little ice remains.
*****
2024/02/09-02/13 UGUISU (bush warblers) start singing in the mountains
February 9th-February 13th, 2024 is Spring-RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-2nd KOU “UGUISU (Bush warblers) start singing in the mountains.”
UGUISU is known as a bird that heralds the arrival of Spring, and has been loved as a bird that represents the beginning. It often appears in HAIKU and Japanese paintings.
I was able to walk on snow, that’s my usual walking area!
The surface of snow that melts during the day freeze and solidify by the cold of the night and early morning. Walking on snow is so much fun!
However, with this cold weather, it may be too early for UGUISU to chirp… …But
Surprisingly, I may have actually heard the chirping late last year. There were many warm days, and the weather felt like early March. So, perhaps the UGUISU felt the arrival of Spring and thought that “I should herald the arrival”. What a lovely immature chirping^^
By the way, the first time I heard it was March 12th last year and March 7th the year before last.
*****
2024/02/04-02/08 East wind melts the ice
February 4th-February 8th, 2024 is Spring-RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-1st KOU “East wind melts the ice.” East wind means warm spring breeze, so the 1st KOU expresses the joy that spring has finally came! The spring breeze that blows during the UME (plum) or SAKURA blossom seasons is also called UME breeze or SAKURA breeze.
Well, it’s RISSHUN, a new year with spring has begun in the lunisolar calendar. However, I feel like this time of year is the coldest (even colder than the Great Cold). Plum and cherry blossoms still have a long way to go. A heavy snow warning has been announced for the Kanto-Koshin region.
Willows started blooming (catkins) on the Nishikawa bank last week, but today they are wearing a beanie😉
*****
January
2024/01/30-02/03 Hens start laying eggs
January 30th-February 3rd, 2024 is Winter-Daikan (Greater cold)-72nd KOU “Hens start laying eggs.”
According to some websites, at the time the SHICHIJYUUNI-KOU was compiled, chickens only laid eggs from spring to summer.
Don’t you think it’s a little strange? You can eat egg dishes all year round.
But, on second thoughts, you will understand that the description of the 72nd KOU is normal in the Nature.
Therefore, I think the 72nd KOU expresses that the days of great cold (DAIKAN) are coming to an end, and warm spring is approaching.
As I no longer saw chickens kept in private homes, I went to a chicken farm to hear their chirpings.
The ancestor of chickens is a family of Pheasants. The 69th KOU was “Pheasants start to call” and, in the 72nd KOU, that feeling is conveyed to chickens, announcing that spring is approaching.
*****
2024/01/25-01/29 Ice thickens on streams
January 25th-29th, 2024 is Winter-Daikan (Greater cold)-71th KOU “Ice thickens on stream.” It represents the time when the water in streams and waterfalls also freezes.
It was raining on the 70th, but the past few days on the 71st have been very cold. A heavy snow warning has been issued with the arrival of the coldest weather this winter. It’s literally DAIKAN. The lack of snow at ski resorts in NOZAWA ONSEN Village and SHIGA KOGEN in the HOKUSHIN area has been resolved. The sign says “Every slope is open”.
This area (southern part of NAGANO City) is sunny during the day. However, because the sky is sunny and clear, radiative cooling becomes stronger and temperature drops. This morning it was -5 degrees.
The breath I exhale is pure white, and the air, water, ground, and trees everything around me seem to be freezing.
*****
2024/01/20-01/24 Butterburs bud
January 20th-24th, 2024 is Winter-Daikan (Greater cold)-70th KOU “Butterburs bud.”
The season has taken another step forward and we have entered DAIKAN (Greater cold), the coldest days of the winter (but today it is raining instead of snowing). And it is the time when butterbur sprouts start to appear.
It is a leadoff wild vegetable for coming early spring. The butterbur sprout TEMPURA that comes with SOBA noodle is delicious. Of course, the SOBA is from SHINSHU area. FUKI MISO (chopped butterbur sprouts stir-fried with MISO and oil) and SAKE are amazing together. You can enjoy the scent of early spring by scattering raw butterbur sprouts on top of MISO soup. For MISO, I definitely recommend SHINSHU products 😉
*****
2024/01/16-01/19 Pheasants start to call
January 16th-19th, 2024 is Winter-Shokan (lesser cold)-69th KOU “Pheasants start to call.” This means that the pheasants are starting to chirp for the first time this year. They are probably calling in anticipation of spring.
Only the males chirp. In the SAI riverbeds, their chirping can be heard all year round, although less frequently. But I’ve only seen it once.
On the other hand, females are occasionally seen. Something like this also happened just last week. Suddenly I heard a loud rustling sound and turned around and saw a large brown bird running away at great speed. It was a female pheasant. I didn’t even have time to get my camera out. Also, the brown feather blending into the landscape made much difficult to find it.
This morning there was still snow from yesterday, and the ground was pure white. So I thought it would be easier to find them and take the photos, but it wasn’t that easy. They didn’t come out and didn’t make any chirp. I wonder if it’s better to stay warm in the nest when it’s this cold.
*****
2024/01/11-01/15 Springs thaw
January 10th-15th, 2024 is Winter-Shokan (lesser cold)-68th KOU “Springs thaw.”
On the 8th, when it snowed (apparently the first snow of the season), I went to URIWARISHOUZU.
The name comes from the legend that a melon (URI) soaked in this clear water (SHOUZU) was so cold that it would break (WARI).
Because of the cold snow (temperature －0.4℃)??? The water felt slightly lukewarm. Is Spring just around the corner as the KOU tells as “Springs thaw”?
No, no, we’re going to have the coldest season called “DAIKAN” from now on. Be careful of the cold!
URIWARISHOUZU is located on a slightly higher than the town. I was a little tired. So as a reward, I got some “SAKA-MANJU (bean-paste bun)” at a WAGASHI sweet shop “TSURUYA” near ZENKOJI Temple and returned home 😀
*****
2024/01/06-01/10 SERI (Japanese parsley) flourishes
January 6th-10th, 2024 is Winter- Shokan (lesser cold)-67th KOU “SERI flourishes”
In ancient China, people ate a soup made with seven types of young green vegetables on 7th January to hope good health and a healthy life. And this custom has become widespread in Japan as “NANAKUSA (seven vegetables) -GAYU (rice soupe)”.
SERI (Japanese parsley) is a popular ingredient for NANAKUSA-GAYU.
It is a plant that grows in places where water flow is narrow, such as along the edge of rice fields. There are many rice fields around here, but I don’t see SERI at this time of year. This is because there is no water in the fields during the winter.
Instead, SEIYO (western)-“SERI” grows in clusters. This is another name (Japanese name) for cresson.
Cresson is a naturalized plant native to Europe, and was introduced to Japan as a food in the early MEIJI period of Japan. It prefers a cool climate, so the climate of SHINSHU area may have been ideal for its growth.
I see it all over the place around here. Cresson has been decided to be the new SHINSHU NANAKUSA!
*****
2024/01/01-01/05 Wheat sprouts under snow
January 1st-5th, 2024 is Winter-Toji (winter solstice)-66th KOU “Wheat sprouts under snow.”
There is no snow on the field. Just a little rain on New Year’s Eve. So, “Wheat sprouts under rain.”
Last year we had a heat summer and a hot autumn. But I feel that today’s temperature is like any other New Year’s day.
Hopefully the weather will return to normal this year, and I also hope wheat will grow well until 24th KOU “Wheat ripens and is harvested” coming early June.
We enjoy MUGICHA (barley tea), UDON (wheat noodle), spaghetti, pizza, pancake and …. anything!
