2025/05/11 LIFE natureSHINHU Special: #2 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 meet “Sowing man”, one of YUKIGATAs appearing on Mt. JIGATANE (OMACHI City), one of Japan Alps.
Every year, the photo is taken on the 10th, but the weather forecast for the day was rain, so the photo is on the 11th. There were a lot of clouds on this day, but after waiting patiently, the sun came out for only about an hour and the “Sowing man” appeared.
In HAKUBA, work of ploughing and irrigating paddy fields is underway. In SHIOJIRI, rice planting is in full swing. Here (southern part of NAGANO City), making the bank of paddy fields has finally been completed, and waiting for the water to be drained.
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2025/05/10-05/14 MIMIZU (earthworms) surface
May 10th, 2025-May 14th is Summer-Middle stage of RIKKA (Beginning of summer)-20th KOU “MIMIZU (earthworms) surface.”
In March, in early spring, the 7th KOU depicted hibernating insects crawling out of the soil when they sense the warmth. So, why MIMIZU in May? Because they don’t become active until much warmer. That’s now “RIKKA.”
MIMIZU are such an important creature for agriculture, as they eat various organic matter in the soil and create compost-rich soil. That’s why the 7th KOU featured MIMIZU.
While plowing the fields, sparrows, pigeons, crows, wagtails and other birds come by. They seem to be after MIMIZU in the newly dug soil.
This morning, I saw a shrike sticking its head into the soil, maybe trying to catch MIMIZU.
In fact, it rained quite a bit from last night through the early hours of the morning, so there must have been some earthworms trying to get out of the damp soil.
Not only MIMIZU, but various insects and small creatures have started to move and fly. Various large creatures that eat them have also started to move actively. In the previous KOU, frogs appeared. Swallows have started raising their young.
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2025/05/05-05/09 Frogs start singing
May 5th, 2025-May 9th is Summer-First stage of RIKKA (Beginning of summer)-19th KOU Frogs start singing.” The SHICHIJYUNIKOU calendar has finally entered summer. Frogs are the seasonal word for spring in haiku. Their increased vocalizations are usually a response to environmental cues associated with changes in weather, particularly increased humidity and the likelihood of rain. Do frogs call for rain? – The Environmental Literacy Council And rain is the seasonal word for summer. I think the 10th KOU represents the transition from spring to summer.
I found my first frog this year on March 25th, probably a kind of brown frogs.
It’s the same swamp, but the frog being croaking a lot recently seems to be Schlegel’s green tree frog by judging from the voice. It is endemic to Japan.
Rice field preparation has begun. As water is drawn into the fields, frogs begin to chorus 🎶
May
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2025/04/30-05/04 Peonies bloom
April 30th, 2025-May 4th is Spring-Last stage of SEIMEI (Pure and clear)-18th Peonies bloom.” The 18 KOU is the end of the KOKUU period, which also means the end of spring. The BOTAN (peony) that blooms at this time of year is a flower that heralds the transition from spring to summer. Each BOTAN flower only blooms for one week. So, in the SHICHIJYUNI-KOU calendar, summer will have arrived when BOTAN flowers finish blooming.
This year, I visited SEISUIJI Temple (WAKAHO, NAGANO City) again. This temple is affectionately known as the “BOTAN Temple.”
Unfortunately, there was only one BOTAN that the flowers were blooming. The blooming was late last year, but it’s even later this year. A BOTAN I found at a house close to the temple were in full bloom! Each of them has its own property.
Along the road to the temple, there are a row of street lamps with signs reading “BOTAN Village.” The school emblem of a nearby elementary school has a BOTAN flower.
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2025/04/25-04/29 Last frost, rice seedlings grow
April 25th, 2025-April 29th is Spring-Middle stage of SEIMEI (Pure and clear)-17th KOU “Last frost, rice seedlings grow.” According to the SHICHIJYUUNIKOU (72 micro seasonal divisions), it’s getting warmer, the frost is gone, and it’s time for seedlings (especially rice) ready to start farming.
There was news that rice planting has started in AZUMINO area (4/16). It’s about two months earlier than around here (southern NAGANO City). Sowing of buckwheat seeds also has begun in AOKI-Village in the TOUSHIN area of UEDA region. These areas are at a high altitude, so is there no need to worry about frost?
My vegetable garden has only recently been tilled^^;
I’m growing eggplants, cucumbers, and tomato, the staples of home gardening, but planting them will be done a little later. Even though the 17th KOU says “Last frost”, I’m worried about the late frost🤔
Today I sowed safflower seeds (see the 23rd KOU). I usually buy them from a store. This year, they were the ones I harvested by myself from last year’s flowers. Once the seedlings are ready, next they are transplanted into my garden.
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2025/04/20-04/24 First reeds sprout
April 20th, 2025-April 24th is Spring-First stage of KOKUU (Grain rains)-16th KOU “First reeds sprout.” The 24-SEKKI (24 major divisions of season in the year) has progressed one step further to become “KOKUU” (Grain rains). The rain of “KOKUU” is said to irrigate all kinds of grains. In the old days when weather forecasting was not well developed, The telling about KOKUU season has been used as a guide for preparing such as rice planting. Under the spring rain, reeds also start to sprout all at once.
The reeds around the CHIKUMA River are withering away, but you can see new green leaves sprouting if you look closely. The reeds have withered remaining in their original shape, so it is hard to see, but you can see new green leaves sprouting if you look closely.
Even though they are withered, the stems re quite hard. Moreover, the surface of the stem is smooth and repels water well. This is why they have been used as a roofing material and for SUDARE (shading screens). As shown in the photo, the larger ones can grow to over 3 meters in total length, so they are very useful.
It can also be used as fertilizer, and in the past people would cut reed-like grass and spread it on rice fields.
In vegetable fields along the CHIKUMA River, I saw crops covered with reeds to protect against late frost. Perhaps they were also used as fertilizer after that.
It’s so easy to get them nearby the river and free, so it’s a waste not to use it✌️
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2025/04/20 LIFEnatureSHINSHU Special: #1 The 27th NAGANO Marathon (Athletes run through the late spring around NAGANO City)
The NAGANO Marathon was first held in 1999, the year after the 1988 Nagano Olympics, as a commemorative event. The number of athletes this year is around 10,000 all over the world.
Unfortunately, it’s a cloudy today and the snow-capped mountains of the Northern Alps Japan are not visible, but peach blossoms are in full bloom to welcome you.
As I write this blog, you are still running, right?
An hour and a half left until the time limit ^^; Hang in there everyone!
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2025/04/15-04/19 First rainbows
April 15th, 2025-April 19th is Spring-Last stage of SEIMEI (Pure and clear)-15th KOU “First rainbows.” As spring progresses, humidity rises and it becomes easier to rain. The “first rainbows represents spring is in full-swing and implied unsettled weather at the same time.
It might rain last night, not so heavy. I just noticed it when I found a puddle while my daily walking.
However, the rain was a nuisance for the cherry blossoms, which had just reached full bloom. Lots of them were floating on the surface of the puddle.
Hopefully they will hold out for a few more days, until the weekend.
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2025/04/09-04/14 Wild geese fly north
April 9th, 2025-April 14th is Spring-Middle stage of SEIMEI (pure and clear)-14th KOU “Wild geese.” Birds that have spent the winter (saying “winter birds”) are migrating north. This is one of the spring scenes.
The KOHAKUCHOU (Tundra swans) spent in the AZUMINO area began their migration to north from mid-February and were already gone by the end of March.
The number of winter birds I saw on the Sai River was less than last season, but it seemed like the variety had increased. I often saw wigeons, ducks, and coots. In addition to, there were also several birds not seen in the summer (actually I don’t know their names). There were also several birds not seen in the summer (actually I don’t know their names).
To my delight, the JYOBITAKI (Durian redstarts) and TSUGUMI (Dusky thrushes) visited to my garden✌️ There were also some birds that I don’t know their names but must be “winter birds”.
When we talk about “migration,” some birds cross the sea, some only travel within Japan, and some move from the mountains to the city. Some birds not only go north, but also come from the south like swallow.
“Goodbye” and “Welcome back” are repeated.
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2025/04/04-04/08 TSUBAME (swallows) return
April 4th, 2025-April 8th is Spring-First stage of SEIMEI (pure and clear)-13th KOU “TSUBAME (swallows return).” The twenty-four seasonal points in the lunisolar calendar (the traditional Japanese calendar) entered the SEIMEI. This means that everything is pure and lively.
The swallows have returned again this year!
The first time I saw swallows this year was on March 29th. Many swallows, surprisingly over 100 of them, were flying over the Sai River. I had never seen so many swallows flying in a group. There is a reed bed nearby, so perhaps they have a roost there? Even after giving birth, swallows only stay in the nest for a short time, and they seem to spend the night in groups.
By the way, there were many days with light rain this week. The weather forecast for next week also shows a lot of cloudiness and rain.
In fact, this rainy season is the best time for swallows to build nests. That’s because swallows use mud as the walls when building their nests. This is difficult in dry soil.
An old Japanese book states “When the swallows build their nests, the walls are plastered.” It seems that humans also had the custom of repairing earthen walls during this season, following the swallows’ example.
April
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2025/03/30-04/03 Distant thunder
March 30th, 2025-April 3rd is Spring-Last stage of SHUNBUN (Spring equinox)-12th KOU “Distant thunder.” The rumbling coming from somewhere must be spring thunder. The 12th KOU represents the unsettled spring weather as the seasons change.
Although there was no “spring thunder”, the weather has been changing rapidly over the past week. The minimum temperature continued to be over 12°C, and the maximum temperatures on the 25th and 27th were 23.4°C and 28.9°C, respectively. However, on the mornings of the 29th and 30th, the weather suddenly changed with some sleet and snow falling.
It’s windy this morning. The newly sprouted branches of NEKOYANAGI (pussy willows) are swaying and black locusts are creaking. You can see eggs of AKAGAERU (Japanese brown frogs and pond eggs) on a little “secret” pond surrounded by trees. The UGUISU (Japanese bush warblers) have gotten better at singing😉. The KUJYAKU (pheasants) become appearing more often. The KIJIBATO (oriental turtle doves) are cooing too.
The spring fields here are very bustling.
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2025/03/25-03/29 First SAKURA (cherry blossoms)
March 25th, 2025-March 29th is Spring-Middle stage of SHUNBUN (Spring equinox)-11th KOU “First SAKURA (cherry blossoms).”
First SAKURA confirmed in TOKYO on 24th March. It seems to be exactly the same time as EDO, which used the lunisolar calendar.
The forecast for the blooming of the SOMEI-YOSHINO, Japan’s most popular cherry blossom tree, in NAGANO City has been announced. It’s April 7th.
Not the SOMEI-YOSHINO, but the JUUGATSU-ZAKURA blossoms are blooming, which is about a week late comparing to the last year. It’s a rare cherry blossom tree that usually blooms around November and again at this time of year. The UME (plums) and ANZU (apricots) blossoms are blooming, not in full bloom yet. Their present status are about one to two weeks late.
We have to wait another two weeks for the SOMEU-YOSHINO to bloom. Until then, let’s enjoy the plum and apricot blossoms, which will be in full bloom before the cherry blossoms.
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2025/03/20-03/24 SUZUME (sparrows) start to nest
March 20th, 2025-March 24th is Spring-First stage of SHUNBUN (Spring equinox)-10th KOU “SUZUME start to nest.” Today is the Spring Equinox. For many living creatures, this is the season when new life is born. In the 10th KOU, SUZUME have begun to build their nests.
There is a lovely wooden hut with a tiled roof on my walking route, and I see the same sparrow, I guess, on the exactly same beam of the roof as always. They must be a pair, and the attics of this hut seems like the perfect place to build a nest.
MUKUDORI (starlings) also come here. They are noisy as they compete for the nesting spot, but for some reason they don’t fight with these sparrows.
Forgotten straws in the rice fields are perfect for building nests. If you fly to the river bank, there are lots of dead reeds, so it looks like you can build as many nests as you like.
And after the spring equinox, the days will get longer. You will have to work harder than ever.
In a few weeks, TSUBAME (swallows) will arrive. Please leave some materials for them ^^
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2025/03/15-03/19 Caterpillars become butterflies
March 15th, 2025-March 19th is Spring-Lase stage of KEICHITSU (Insects awaken)-9th KOU “Caterpillars become butterflies.” The 9th KOU represents the arrival of real spring. It gets warm enough for caterpillars to turn into butterflies.
I haven’t seen any butterflies this year yet, so I went to the same rape flower field where cabbage white butterflies were found last year. But unhappily they were not there, even the flowers haven’t even bloomed.
I also went to the same SATOYAMA (a woodland near a village) where I first found butterflies last year. They were HIODOSHI-CHOU (Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell) and it’s on March 15 last year. I could not find them here too. Actually, as the butterflies have overwintered as an adult and come out again when it gets warmer, they are not a kind of butterflies thar turn from insects into butterflies in spring such as the 8th KOU tells. Anyway, since they are often found on dead leaves or rocks, basking in the warm spring sunshine of this season, so I think it’s fair to say they are representative of spring butterflies.
By the way, I found eggs of the NIHON-AKAGAERU (Japanese brown frogs) today✌️ Actually, it is two weeks later than last year.
This year, natural activity as a whole seems to be delayed. Every plant and living creature are mutually connected, aren’t they?
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2025/03/10-03/14 First MOMO (peach) blossoms
March 10th, 2025-March 14th is Spring-KEICHITSU (Insects awaken)-8th KOU “First MOMO (peach) blooms.” The 8th KOU represents the cozy atmosphere of spring, warm enough for MOMO blossoms to bloom.
But this is from Edo, more than 100 years ago, when the 72 seasons were created. Here in the HOKUSHIN area, the MOMO still be flower buds. Several flowers of the UME (plum) have bloomed (more than 10 days later comparing with the last year’s), and the ANZU buds have swelled. The willow flowers along the SAI River look a little smaller than last year’s, a bit late too.
Meanwhile, in my garden, the SUISEN (daffodils) have, started to bloom, the MATSUYUKISOU (snowdrops) are in full bloom, and the KINSENKA (Field Marigold) that survived the snow are also blooming.
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2025/03/05-03/09 Hibernating insects surface
March 5th, 2025-March 9th is Spring-KEICHITSU(Insects awaken)-7th KOU “Hibernating insects surface.” It depicts hibernating insects crawling out of the soil as they sense the warmth.
It’s snowed three times in the past few days and rain this morning.
The insects and bugs will probably still be in the soil in such days. But it’s probably about time to get ready to wake up. Fish from under the thin ice, lots of chironomids (probably just hatched) under the stones by the water, and also earthworms in the soil of the “KANOKOSHI” (I put them back in the soil ^^), they are waiting you come out.
There’s a word SANKAN-SHIONN that means after three cold days, warm weather lasts for four days. The word is actually for expressing winter season, not spring.
Looking at the past few KOU, I’m surprised that the weaather is so literal. It’s a little cold today, but will it get warmer after that?
By the way, the date I found clumps of frog eggs (probably NIHON-AKAGAERU (Japanese brown frogs)) last year was March 3rd. This year, I haven’t found any yet.
March
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2025/02/28-03/04 Grass sprouts, trees bud
February 28th, 2025 –March 4th is Spring – USUI(Rainwater)-6th KOU “Grass sprouts, trees bud.” At the end of the USUI season, the ground becomes moist with melting snow and warm spring rains. It’s time plants begin to sprout.
It’s March now. The temperature has risen sharply up to +15.7°C.
The moment I feel it’s getting warm is when I’m trying about to get up in the morning but being still wrapped up in my FUTON (blanket). It doesn’t feel drafty around my head or hair. I no longer have to wear a ZUBON-SHITA (underpants? patches? tights?) during the day.
Plants are honest, too. Small flowers are blooming. During the hot summer, the grass in my vegetable garden is a nuisance, but when I see them blooming at this time of year, it seems like a messenger of spring.
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2025/02/23-02/27 KASUMI to linger
February 23rd, 2025 –February 27th is Spring – USUI (Rainwater)-5th KOU “KASUMI (spring haze) starts to linger” This is a scene where a thin layer of KASUMI (spring haze) hangs over the sky, making the distant scenery look dim and hazy. The dry winter air is replaced by water vapor and dust (yellow sand, pollen, etc.). The 5th KOU represents the arrival of spring.
However, HOKUSHIN area is experiencing a big cold wave as weather forecast predicted. There is no snow around here, but the minimum temperature has been below minus 5 degrees for the past few days, and about plus 2 degrees during the days. On the 22nd, the maximum daytime temperature was minus 0.1 degrees. The dry winter conditions are still continuing.
I heard a small roared sound above my head. All I could see directly above was the bright blue sky. Oh, I remembered that, I looked further ahead and could get a jet plane. It was clearly visible because of the dry “winter” air.
A while after I stopped hearing the sound, I heard another sound, the chirp of a Japanese bush warbler. Perhaps it was because of the cold or because it was a young bird, but it wasn’t very good at singing. Anyway, it was the first chirp in this season.
Spring is definitely approaching.
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2025/02/18-02/22 Rain moistens the soil
February 18th, 2025 –February 22nd is Spring – USUI (Rainwater)-4rd KOU “Rain moistens the soil”
The micro-season USUI (Rainwater) represents the time when warm spring rains moisten the earth and plants begin to sprout.
The snow that fell a few days ago has mostly melted. And it has rained lightly three times so far today. The fields are moderately wet as the 4th KOU represents.
The weather was nice on Sunday the 16th, so I went out to my kitchen garden for the first time in a month and a half and did “KAN-OKOSHI”
, that you roughly dig up the soil with a shovel and expose it to the cold to kill pests such as soil disinfection. This is also called “KAN-ZARASHI” (cold exposure).
Actually, more than half of the field had been left untouched since the end of last year, so it had been bothering me for a while. The best time for “KAN-ZARASHI” is in early February, when it’s the coldest, but you don’t want to work when it’s cold^^;
According to the weather forecast, a “once in several decades” cold wave is expected to hit the country this weekend. Temperatures of minus 6 to 9 degrees are expected to continue for several days.
It’s ideal for “KAN-OKOSHI”, but I’m worried about heavy snowfall.
With nature, things don’t always go our way.
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2025/02/13-02/27 Fish emerge from ice
February 13th, 2025 –February 17th is Spring – RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-3rd KOU “Fish emerge from ice” The thick ice is gradually melting, then fish emerge from the ice.
It had snowed for the past few days.
This morning, I noticed the road was wet, because it rained last night. Rain! not snow.
Half of the pond’s surface is still covered with ice. From the edge of the thin ice, a carp popped its head out. Then it slowly came out, and slowly went back under the ice again.
Spring is on its way, slowly and slowly.
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2025/02/08-02/12 UGUISU (Bush warblers) start singing in the mountains
February 8th, 2025 –February 12th is Spring – RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-2nd KOU “UGUISU (Bush warblers) start singing in the mountains”
It snowed all day yesterday (the 8th). There was no sound around the forest. Of course, UGUISU didn’t come out on days like this. The first UGUISU chirping was heard on March 17th in 2022, March 12th in 2023, and March 7th in 2024. There’s one month left.
Meanwhile, down by the riverbank, there were lively creatures, even on a day like this snow. SEKIREI (Wagtail) hopped around on the stones, doing their signature pose of frequently swinging their tails up and down. Winter birds, KANMURIKAITSUBURI (Crested grebes) and KOGAMO (Common teals), floated neatly in a line on the river. When I got close, they flew away immediately. Several KARASU (Crows) were pecking at the bottom of the shallows. When I took away the stones, a large number of YUSURIKA (Chironomidae) that had just hatched (?) from their pupae came out. They were wandering around on the snow, probably because they couldn’t fly yet.
The human (me) enjoyed walking on the snow, also ^^
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2025/02/03-02/07 Spring wind melts the ice
February 3rd, 2025 –February 7th is Spring – RISSHUN (Beginning of spring)-1st KOU “Spring wind melts the ice”
On the 3rd, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the first spring wind of the season had blown in the HOKURIKU region. The first spring wind is the first warm southerly wind to blow when the season changes from winter to spring. As the 1 KOU states, “The spring wind melts the ice,” the frozen earth begins to melt.
Meanwhile, this morning (5th) in Nagano has snow fallen in a while. Pansies planted in the fall and daffodils, which bloomed the earliest in this region, are also covered in snow.
I found something yellow in the snow. It was flowers of HON-KINSENKA (Calendula arvensis/Field marigold？). It is also known as “winter-unknown” because it continues to bloom even in the harsh cold. It is a plant that is extremely hardy to the cold, and is said to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -15°C. It is a small flower (about 2cm) to begin with, but it is nice to see just a little bit of it peeking out from the pure white snow that covers.
Well, it’s forecast to get even colder this weekend. I hope flowers stay that way.
Feburary
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2025/01/30-02/02 Hens start laying eggs
January 30th, 2025 –February 2nd is Winter – DAIKAN (Greater cold)-72nd KOU “Hens start laying eggs.” The literal meaning of the72nd KOU is that hens will start to stay in often explained that they crow only in the morning and only males (roosters) to claim their territory.
Here they are crowing even during the day. They crow in a specific order and at each different position. It seems that they have a territorial sense even in a chicken farm.
However, the idea that they only crow in the morning or they feel the arrival of spring may be no longer correct in today’s world.
Even though, I am impressed by the author’s sensitivity in sensing the arrival of spring through eggs, a symbol of new life, at the end of the cycle of SHICHIJYUUNI-KOU (the end of a year in the lunar calendar).
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2025/01/25-01/29 Ice thickens on streams
January 25th, 2025 – January 29th is Winter – DAIKAN (Greater cold)-71st KOU “Ice thickens on streams”
This morning the radiation cooling was strong and it felt freezing. I love this cold ^^
River fog was seen on the Sai Rive and ice was formed on the shoreline.
The lowest temperature this morning was minus 2.9°C. That’s nice for ice to form.
The temperature of the stones may have been even lower. The waves repeatedly crashing on the shore touched the stones and the ice grew. This process continued throughout the night.
The forecast for the day is 7°C, but it’s very warm with plenty of sunshine, now. The ice will melt soon.
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2025/01/20-01/24 HUKINOTOU bud
January 20th, 2025 – January 24th is Winter – DAIKAN (Greater cold)-70th KOU “HUKINOTOU (Butterburs) bud”
We have entered DAIKAN, the coldest days in the year. However, the highest temperature yesterday was only 10 degrees. In Shinshu, it is as warm as mid-March.
Perhaps lured by the good weather, HUKINOTOU (butterburs) bud starts to appear, that is a leadoff wild vegetable for coming early spring. FUKI-MISO (chopped HUKINOTOU bud stir-fried with MISO and oil) is fine with rice. It’s hard to describe the deliciousness of this slightly bitter taste😏 If you want to enjoy more the scent of the early spring, you can scatter raw HUKINOTOU bud on top of MISO soup.
It’s a taste unique to Shinshu, where people look forward to the arrival of spring.
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2025/01/15-01/19 Pheasants start to call
January 15th, 2025 – January 19th is Winter – SHOKAN (Lesser cold)-69th KOU “Pheasants start to call” The author sensed early spring as he heard the pheasants’ calls. Male pheasants use their distinctive cries to court females, so it is breeding season now. Spring is approaching.
There are perhaps four male pheasants on my walking area, each with a territory of about 300-400 meters.
I have only heard them call once this year yet. Is it too cold for courtship in Shinshu? After searching on line, the actual breeding season starts around April.
Actually, the pheasants around here seem to be singing all year round – are they fighting for territory or are they warning or letting them know something (me ^^;) is coming?
I’ve finally got the photo✌️ it’s a female pheasant.
Most of the time, they would appear so suddenly from the nearby bushes that I was so startled that I didn’t even have time to take out my camera.
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2025/01/10-01/14 Springs thaw
January 10th, 2025 – January 14th, 2025 is Winter – SHOKAN (Lesser cold)-68th KOU “Springs thaw.” This states that the tiny amount of water flowing from the frozen spring signals the very early arrival of spring.
Last week, the sun was out during the day and it was warm for several days. It seemed the “Springs thaw” season started a week early.
When the water moves, many things move. Of course, fish started to swim. My usual morning walk was bit long too, so that I could see the furry catkins of the pussy willow blooming.
However, contrary to 68th KOU “Springs thaw”, the cold weather is returning to its common at this time of year. There was a fine snow this morning. The smallness of the snowflakes tells us how cold it is. The high temperature today is expected to be 2℃.
In many ways, isn’t it natural to get cold at this time of year… right?
Cold and warm days alternate, and season is steadily approaching spring.
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2025/01/05-01/09 SERI flourishes
January 5th, 2025 – January 9th, 2025 is Winter – SHOKAN (Lesser cold)-67th KOU “SERI flourishes”
SERI (Japanese parsley) is a familiar plant to Japanese people as an early spring food ingredient (one of the seven herbs). It was already being eaten in the Nara period (8th century)
It is one of the first plants to flourish in the cold season before spring arrives, so people in the past ate SERI to try putting its vitality into their bodies. I found some wild SERI. It has a unique, refreshing scent. It’s still small, but the scent is more than enough to make me look forward to spring.
