December
2022/12/31 Deer, elk, or wild boar?
According to the lunisolar calendar, December 27 to December 31, 2022 is the time when the male deer antlers fall.
There are various theories about this deer, including the species of large reindeer and elk. Of course, it is not found in the Shinshu region.
I found the footprints of a “wild boar” instead.
Both a wild boar and a deer have the same ancestor – cetacean artiodactyls-, so the shape of the hoof of a wild boar is similar to that of a deer. And I applied it to the “麋角解” …
The lunisolar calendar, which originated in China, was revised to suit the seasons, climates, plants, animals and others of the Japan. But some still seem to be of Chinese origin. Like 「麋角解」.
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2022/12/18 Salmon run-up time?
According to the lunisolar calendar, mid-December is the time when salmon move up the river in flocks.”
The CHIKUMA River, which crosses HOKUSHIN area, changes its name to the SHINANO River in NIIGATA Prefecture connects to the Japan sea.
According to the NIIGATA-MIZUBENOKAI（niigata-mizubenokai.org/shinanogawa): The CHIKUMA River and SAI River were some of the leading salmon producing areas in Japan, but the construction of dams and other measures cut off the salmon run-up, and salmon fishing ended in 1940. It has not been found since October 2010, when an adult salmon fish moved up for the first time in 70 years.
I found an angler in the SAI River, a tributary of the CHIKUMA River. Soak up to his chest in water at this cold time…But since the local fishery cooperative releases and manages rainbow trout, it seems to be a longing field for anglers (Trautman).
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2022/12/07 NOZAWANA-ZUKE (pickled NOZAWANA vegetable)
It’s December, the HOKUSHIN region will face a harsh winter from now on.
We’re in the middle of making pickled NOZAWANA (a kind of Japanese turnip green) as a preserved food for the winter season.
The seasoning is basically divided into salted and soy sauce pickles,and the method of making it is slightly different for each family. It’s the taste of the home.
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2022/12/05 The seasons of MIKAN (mandarin oranges )
According to the luni-solar calendar, it is the time when MIKAN ripen and turn yellow.
It’s time for MIKAN (mandarin orange) to hit the market.
They grow in warm climates.
So, here in the HOKUSHIN region (the northern part of SHINSHU or NAGANO), MIKAN are rarely seen.
Instead of MIKAN, you can enjoy various yellow/orange colored fruits. Trifoliate oranges have the name of orange, but they cannot be eaten raw. They are used as a material for fruit wine and as a crude drug after drying.
KAKI: persimmon (lower left) and KRATACHI: trifoliate orange (lower right)
At the end of November, I could find a MIKAN tree from the train window when I was a business trip to TSU City, MIE Prefecture. It is a scenery that cannot be seen in the HOKUSHIN region.
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November
2022/11/18-23 NAGANO EBISU-KO (EBISU Festival)
It is early winter in the lunisolar calendar.
“NAGANO EBISU-KO” is held at this time every year.
NISHINOMIYA Shrine, known as the “God of EBISU,” holds the “EBISU-KO-SAI” festival every year in November (October of the lunisolar calendar) to pray for prosperous business.
This year it was November 18-20. During the “YOI EBISU” on the 19th, many stalls selling KUMADE rakes, DARUMA dolls, and other lucky charms were set up and crowded with people looking for lucky charms.
(NISHINOMIYAa Shrine is very close to ZENKOJI Temple. It takes less than 10 minutes on foot.)
In conjunction with this, the NAGANO EBISU-KOU HANABI (fireworks) Festival was held on November 23rd. One of the largest fireworks festivals in the country and was the 116th time this year.
With everyone’s various wishes, large fireworks spread all over the night and resounded in the ZENKOJI Basin area.
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2022/11/16 Shining polka dots
It’s already winter in the lunisolar calendar.
According to the calendar, the ground will freeze for the first time around this time.
The HOKUSHIN area of SHINSHU has been cold for the past few days, but the ground is not frozen 😉
Instead of frost, I found a lot of polka dots on the wormwood (Artemisia capillaris) leaves.
The surface of wormwood is covered with fine hairs. They were probably formed by a collection of misty water droplets.
They were shining in the morning sun.
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2022/11/07 SATOYAMA (woodland near the village) decorated with red, yellow and brown leaves
The autumn leaves front has come down to SATOYAMA area.
The colorful autumn leaves look like an UKIYOE (Japanese woodblock prints).
Apples are also shining bright red. It’s about 1-2 weeks until harvest.
Many Japanese go hiking to enjoy the autumn leaves (MOMIJIGARI) on a refreshing autumn day.
At KINASA village behind this mountain, there is a sad story about a beautiful woman named MOMIJI. See “The story of Kijo-Momiji” Kijomomiji_illust.pdf (sakura.ne.jp)
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2022/11/04 New SOBA (back wheat noodle)
We wnet to Togakushi where is one of the most famous SOBA areas in Japan.
Many many many people from all over Japan come to Togakushi to eat new SOBA.
On November 1st, the New SOBA Dedication Festival was held at Togakushi Shrine CHUSHA, and SOBA restaurants have finally started offering new SOBA.
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October
2022/10/17 KIKU (chrysanthemum)
Chrysanthemum in my kitchen garden have bloomed beautifully again this year.
The flowers are said to bloom where hermits live, and it was believed that drinking KIKU-SAKE would help you live longer.
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2022/10/05 Draining paddy fields (OTOSHI-MIZU) and rice harvesting
It’s the time of rice harvesting. Rice is the staple food of the Japanese.
Before harvesting the rice, the paddy fields are drained to make it easier to harvest. Recently, farmers use a combine more often, so the fields must be thoroughly dry.
I can’t wait to eat “SHINMAI” that is the first new rice harvested of the year.
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September
2022/09/20 Swallows have gone
The recent cool breeze seems to have reminded the swallows a warm place.
They came flying to Shinshu in April (see 2022/04/12) and brought up children twice (2022/06/30).
It’s time to head south. Hope not Andersen’s story of “Happy Prince”.
Come back and show us a healthy side next year again!
Missing swallows in your area? Still there? Or are they back?
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2022/09/17 Wagtails in early autumn
According to the Japanese lunisolar calendar, at this time of year you can hear the voices of Wagtails. The high-pitched chirping that echoes in the sky makes you feel that the air has cleared in early autumn.
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2022/09/10 “OTSHUKIMI” Harvest moon
In Japan, at this time of year, there is a custom of viewing the moon with offerings of the harvest (taro, sweet potatoes, and others). “OTSUKIMI” is an event for praying for a good harvest.
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2022/09/06 Paddy field waiting for rice harvest
The ears of rice has begun to shine golden waiting to be harvested.
Can’t wait to eat newly harvested rice!
Sparrows also love rice, so farmers use scarecrows, shining tape and protective nets to keep them away.
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August
2022/08/16 Evening-cicada and Red-dragonfly
It’s already autumn in the Japanese lunisolar calendar.
Come to think of it, the sound of cicadas has also changed. The sound of Evening-cicadas seems to be getting louder than that of other types of cicadas.
I met a large flock of red dragonflies this morning. It is said that they spend the hot summer in the cool mountains and return to the fields in the autumn.
Insects must be feeling the signs of the early autumn.
The weather forecast (the human world) warns that there will be days when the temperature exceeds 30 degrees though…
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2022/08/13 OBON
OBON is one of the Buddhist traditions during which the Japanese remember the deceased members of their families and welcome their spirits to the home. Many people go back to their hometowns during the OBON period. OBON is the most important tradition for Japanese people.
In the Hokushin region(especially around Nagano City),MARUNASU-OYAKI(roundshaped eggplant-pancake) is used as an offering during the OBON period. Eggplants are cut into round slices, seasoned with MISO(fermented soybeans paste) and oil, wrapped in a wheat skin, and then steamed or grilled. MARUNASU-OYAKI and MARUNASU-Tempra (deep-fried food) ae indispensable for the OBON dining table. lol
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July
2022/07/31 Just walking around thick bushes on “大暑(TAISHO)”
The Japanese luni-solar calendar mentions the last day of July “大暑(TAISHO)”.
This means the most muggy time of the year.
It’s the best season for plants, to grow thickly.
Let’s walk around the bushes where the surface has hardended in winter (see
2022/02/25 Trucking the footsteps on a hardended snow)
Any footprints of birds or animals can’t be found, covered with bushes, but beautiful flowers and naughty insects welcome you and will be drenched in sweat on “大暑” , lol.
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2022/07/22 Hawks
According to the old Japanese Lunisolar calendar,around mid July is the time when baby hawks are learning how to fly and hunt from their parents flying in the sky.
Hawks!
The baby-hawk may be learning from the parent how to fly and to watch the orchard:)
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2022/07/17 Rotus (HASU) at ZENKOJI Temple
Rotus, OHGA HASU, is blooming. The photo was taken at ZENKOJI Temple that was founded in 642 AD and the main building is designated a national teasure of Japan.
OHGA HASU is a rotus that germinated and bloomed from the fruit of an ancient lotus more than 2000 years ago (ancient lotus). It was named after Dr.OHGA who found the fruit at Ochiai Ruins of Chiba Ciy and succeeded in making the flowers bloom.
Rotus born over 2000 years ago is now blooming secretly at 1400 years historical temple.
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2022/07/06 Young walnut and Tadpoles
“YAMANASHI”, a short fable story written by Kenji Miyazawa.
Two crab brothers were looking up at the ceiling of a stream. Suddenly something big round has suddenly fallen into the water.
“A kingfisher!” they screamed and then Dad crab came and gently tell them, “It’s YAMANASI (Japanese pear found in mountain). Lets’follow.”
The YAMANASHI was flowing slowly with sprinkling an nice scent.
Many tadpoles are swimming around the paddy fields.
“What’s that?” They seem very curious about the big round thing, but they don’t try to approach to it.
The calendar says that it will be getting even hotter toward the mid summer.
Then, let’s enjoy this refreshing scenery a little more.
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June
2022/06/30 The season of birth
A collection of photos of babies born in May and June.
From top left to right: Japanese cedar, Mulberry, Apple, Grape, Stag beetle, Ladybug, Mantis, Earthworm, Tadpole(larval stage), Tadpole, Frog, Pond snail, Loach, Wild duck, Swallow(first breed), Swallow(second breed. Look! Lanugo).
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2022/06/24 Chilled Noodles
Many restaurants have begun to offer chilled noodles.Chinese style, Shinshu style,and others. They offer their own taste ones. Let’s enjoy the seasonal dish in the hot and humid rainy days!
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2022/06/19 UME & ANZU
The old Japanese Lunisolar calendar describes that mid week of June is the season of “UME (Japanese apricot) is getting yellow”.
It reminded me of leaving UMESHU,UME wine made by myself,under the floor for a long time. I immediately took it out and drank, enjoyed a refreshing early summer taste!
UME is a very popular fruit that is indispensable for Japanese dining table. UMEBOSHI, salt pickled UME, is indispensable for Japanese dining table.
ANZU (Apricot) is also a fruit of this period. Mori area in Chikuma City next to Nagano city is famous for its delicious ANZU. We eat ANZU as it is, and processed ANZU such as dried/pickled syrup ones and jam are also popular.
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2022/06/07 TSUYU & AJISAI
Yesterday (June 6), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that it had started the rainy season, the so-called “TSUYU”, in the KANTO KOSHIN region. SHINSHU is a part of the KOSHIN region.
The representative flower during TSUYU is hydrangea (AJISAI). Many Japanese really enjoy them. The hydrangeas in my home are beginning to color.The pale blue is so nice!
In the world of WAGASHI (Japanese sweets), they are now in full bloom.
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2022/06/03 UDON (thick Japanese noodle)
Around Suzaka City, Nagano City, Chikuma City, and Sakaki Town along the Chikuma River, UDON has traditionally been eaten as a home-cooked dish.
During this busy period of the agricultural season, UDON dish, which can be made from flour without hassle, seemed to be preferred.
Wheat “YUMESEIKI” has supported the UDON culture. It was born at the Nagano Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station (Suzaka City) and is carefully grown in Shinshu area.
According to the Japanese lunisolar calendar, May 31st to June 4th is “麦秋至”, which means that the wheat harvest time has come.
The yellow-gold of “Shunrai” tells us that “麦秋至” has come and “Yumeseiki” is still in dark-green and growing.
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May
2022/05/21 YES! TAKENOKOJIRU
“TAKENOKOJIRU” is MISO(soybean past) soup(JIRU or SHIRU) made from bamboo shoots (TAKENOKO) and canned mackerel (SABAKAN).
Bamboo shoots of NEMAGARIDAKE-TAKENOKO are wild edible plants that signal the beginning of the rainy season before the earlier summer.
According to legend, in Shinshu area, mackerel cans (SABAKAN) have been widely used as preserved food in winter.
TAKENOKOJIRU which is a mixture of release from heavy snow and the arrival of early summer, is one of the Shinshu people’s soul foods.
It makes me happy to find NEMAGARIDAKE and SABAKAN lined up at the supermarket (lol).
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2022/05/10 YUKIGATA
YUKIGATA; YUKI is snow and GATA is shape or figure.
As the snow covering the surface of the mountain begins to melt, the contrast between the white of the snow and the blue-black of the surface creates a unique pattern. It looks like the shape of humans, animals, or farm tools.
The change in the shape was a good guide for agricultural work.
With the development of today’s weather forecasts, YUKIGAT was regarded as a natural property rather than an agricultural guide.
How will global warming affect YUKIGATA?
Are there any YUKIGATA in you country?
May 10; rice planting in Omachi was already completed, while in Hakuba rice fields had just begun to be irrigated.
April 20; there was no field activity in both areas, and the animals looked leaner than they were on May 10.
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2022/05/02 HACHIJUHACHI YA
Today is “HACHIJUHACHI YA” .
“HACHIJU” and “HACHI” mean “eighty” and “eight”, respectively. “YA” means “day” or “night”. So, “HACHIJUHACHI YA” is the day that passed 88 days counting from the first day of this year that is February fourth according to the old Japanese lunisolar calendar.
The weather during this period becomes stable, and so the day was considered the reference day for starting farming.
Especially, “HACHIJUHACHI YA” is the image of new green tea, a guideline for picking the first sprout of the year.
However, here in Shinshu region, frost often occurs even at this time. People are taking their own unique measures to prevent frost damage in the home vegetable garden (^^).
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April
2022/04/25 Mountain laughing
Mt. Jizuki (733m) behind the Zenkoji -Temple has finally reached spring , enjoying the late spring with happy laughs.
Guo Xi, a landscape painter in the Northern Song of China, described spring, summer, autumn, and winter as follows.
Spring 春山淡冶而如笑 Mounting laughing
Summer 夏山蒼翠而如滴 Mountain dripping
Spring 秋山明淨而如粧 Mountain dressing up
Winter 冬山慘淡而如眠 Mountain sleeping
MAMEKOYOMI Wagashi shop expresses the mountain laughing by traditional Japanese sweets (WAGASHI).
The late spring of Mt. Jizuki , WAGASHI with the motif of spring mountain.
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2022/04/17 24th NAGANO Marathon
The NAGANO Marathon was back.
The last two races (2021 and 2020) have been cancelled due to COVID-19. It started in 1999 to commemorate the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano.
The marathon is a seasonal event that tells the rest of spring.
Good job, everyone!
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2022/04/14 Gotcha! Uguisu (weblar)
Uguisu is called a spring telling bird (see 03/07 and 04/03). I’ve heard singing of Uguisu in various places for the past few days, but couldn’t find it easily.
There is a color called Uguisu in the JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) color standard, #918D40. In the HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) color name, which is one of the world standards, it seems that olive # 808000 is close to the Uguisu color.
Gotcha！ JIS Uguisu (bottom left) HTML Olive (bottom right)
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2022/04/12 Swallow returned!
Swallow that was overwintering from Taiwan to Southeast Asia. Now returned!💛
It has been treated as a beneficial bird that eats pests.
Today, the air is covered with high pressure and dry, allowing insects to fly high. Swallows are also flying high to feed.
How about wallows in your area? Have come/gone?
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2022/04/10 Relay of flowers: Pulm-Apricot-Sakura-Peach
Yesterday, the Nagano Local Meteorological Office issued a declaration of sakura (cherry blossoms). Flowering is 2 days earlier than normal and 11 days later than the last year.
In the Shinshu region, apricot flowers bloom between plums and sakura, and peach blossoms bloom after the cherry blossoms. It is a relay of flowers.
peaches (blooming from now on!)
Apricots are very popular as ingredients for jams and sweets as well as raw food. It seems that more apricots are planted than sakura as garden trees.
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2022/04/03 Butterflies and Uguisu (bush warder)
A practice of trail running up to “Satoyama” of 110 m height.
At the sunny mountain-top, butterflies (swallowtail butterfly and scarce tortoiseshell butterfly) were chasing after each other. It seems smaller than the swallowtail butterfly you see in summer.
The larvae we see in the vegetable fields in the summer are annoying, but if you find them during this time, they will be adorable.
The bush warbler (Uguisu) was singing on the way home. The young bird still can’t sing well ^^
Have you already heard the singing in your area?
March
2022/03/27 Butterfly (Scarce tortoiseshell butterfly)
The warm nice day (but 16 degrees Celsius) temped me out to “Satoyama” meaning a small mountain near a rural village.
At the top (about 150m), I found several butterflies (Scarce tortoiseshell butterfly).
Lucky for the first time this year💛
The picture below was taken at the same place at the same season last year. If this is the same type of butterfly (Nymphalis xanthomelas) , the seasons seem to have come around in the same way, definitely.
2021/04/03
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2022/03/22 KAMIYUKI
After warm and cheerful for the past few days, it’s snowing from the morning today.
The snow at this time is called Kamiyuki in the Shinshu region. It seems that the “warm” snow containing a large amount of moisture that falls from the center to the south of Nagano prefecture. It often causes damage such as broken branches.
LIFEnature SHINSHU is sending topics of “Hokushin” area, the northern part of Nagano prefecture (upper right of the map).
The plums that finally bloomed were also covered with the warm snow.
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2022/03/20 SOBA with FUKINOU Tempura
FUKINOTOU (butterbur sprout) is a typical wild spring vegetable.
SOBA (buckwheat noodles) with Tempura is very familiar in Japan.
The slightly bitter taste of Fukinotou tempura makes you feel the arrival of spring.
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2022/03/07 The first song of UGUISU (bush warbler)💛
Warblers live near us all year round, but they are very cautious and sing loudly only in the spring of the breeder season. Therefore, it is called spring telling birds.
We can enjoy Uguisu mochi (a kind of WAGASHI, Japanese traditional sweets) two months earlier than the first song of Uguisu.
According to Tamura Saijiki (No. 32), “Uguisu mochi was first made at the long-established Wagashi shop ” Honke Kikuya ” in Nara Prefecture. Hideyoshi Toyotomi (Shogun) was very satisfied with this Wagashi and named it “Uguisu mochi”.
It is amazing that the Uguisu mochi made over 400 years ago is inherited today. You can find the Japanese heart that loves the seasons inside Wagashi.
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2022/03/05 KEICHITSU
According to Japanese old lunisolar calendar, KEICHITSU is the day when insects spent time in the soil during the winter come out.
I searched for a frog in our garden. In the grass, in the flowerpots, inside the blocks, that’s where they’ve always been hiding. Couldn’t find it. It still seem to be hibernating.
I found a snowdrop instead. German legend: God gave the flowers the desired color. When the paint was used up, the transparent snow asked, “Please, me too …”. The troubled god asked the flowers to give them different colors, but they all refused. Flowers hated cold snow. Just that time. “My color, white, if you like.” It was a snowdrop that offered. (Michizo Tachihara “Flower Story Winter” from SHINANOMAINICHI Newspaper on 4th March, 2022)
February
2022/02/28 Red Japan Alps
Around the last day of February, the old Japanese lunisolar calendar tells us “Mist Begins to linger”. But the atmosphere here in Shinshu region was still crystal clear.
Only today! I got up at 5 o’clock.
Mountains are laughing at the out-of-focus photos
by a famous HAIKU writer Rinko Hachijo
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2022/02/25 Tracking the footsteps on a hardended snow
In this season, the surface of snow often becomes hardended. The surface of snow melts during the day and froze at cold night/the early morning.
You can walk on the snow, and can easily access any places where you could not touch during summer for heavy bushes
I found footprints of birds, animals, or humans (Oh! that’s myself). They may have enjoyed the hard snow.
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2022/02/03 SETSUBUN
On February 3rd is New Year’s Eve according to the old Japanese lunisolar calendar.
As the old Japanese custom, before the beginning of the new year, people sowed beans for the health and safety of the following year. It was believed that ONI (devils) brought illness and misery, so people tried to drive ONI (devils) away by squeezing beans. Beans were believed containing spirit.
I bought a lucky bean (HUKUMAME) with a Japanese sweet shop “MAMEKOYOMI” near Zenkoji temple. I did not sow them. Why?
Because they are so delicious *^^*
Next morning, a sparrow was pecking the beans outdoors. Beans also brought happiness to it.
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January
2022/01/03-2021/12/31 Nature is a great artist
There were many feather patterns on the snow. Apparently, birds gathered in search of apples. Did they come down or take off?
Various faces were found, also.
The land of Shinshu is a pure white canvas, and nature is a great artist.
