Like many countries, Japan has 4 seasons. It also has 72 micro-seasons! Traditionally the Japanese year was divided into 72 seasons of roughly 5 days each. Each of these micro-seasons was named after the changes in the natural world that could be observed at the time, or the current agricultural activities. Next week (from MayContinueContinue reading “紅花栄 (Benibana sakau) “Safflowers bloom””
Category Archives: Nature
皐月 (sa-tsu-ki) “May” (archaic)
Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is 一月 (ichi-gatsu, literally “Month one”), February is 二月 (ni-gatsu, “Month two”), etc. However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the FrenchContinueContinue reading “皐月 (sa-tsu-ki) “May” (archaic)”
咲 (saku) “to bloom”
Springtime is the season for beautiful blooming flowers in Japan. The most well-known are cherry blossoms. Plum and peach blossoms are popular too. They look similar, but there are some key differences:
卯月(uzuki) “April” (archaic)
Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month One”, February is “Month Two”, etc: 一月 = January 二月 = February However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar toContinueContinue reading “卯月(uzuki) “April” (archaic)”
🌸 桜 (sakura) “cherry blossoms” 🌸
It’s cherry blossom season in (parts of) Japan! Cherry blossoms are arguably the most beloved of Japanese flowers, and even feature on the 100 coin. In springtime many Japanese people like to do 花見 (Hanami) “viewing cherry blossoms”, sometimes taking the excuse to have a party and drink under the trees.
弥生 (yayoi) “March” (archaic)
Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month one”, February is “Month two”, etc. However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar). March is:ContinueContinue reading “弥生 (yayoi) “March” (archaic)”
梅 (umé) plum
It will soon be blossom season in Japan! By far the most famous of Japanese blossoms are cherry blossoms, but they’re not the first spring flower to bloom. Plum blossom usually start appearing as early as mid-February. Although not as dramatic as the more-famous cherry blossoms, they are well-loved for their subtle beauty. The imageContinueContinue reading “梅 (umé) plum”
冬 (fuyu) “winter”
熊 (kuma) “bear” (kanji of the year 2025)
At the end of each year, one kanji is chosen to be “kanji of the year”. The winning kanji represents that year’s current events. 2025’s kanji was “bear” (kuma) 熊. 2025 saw a marked increase in the number of wild bear attacks on Japanese citizens, due to environmental changes leading them to abandon their naturalContinueContinue reading “熊 (kuma) “bear” (kanji of the year 2025)”
書初め (kakizomé) The First Calligraphy of the New Year
New Year’s is the biggest festival in Japan. As a time for new beginnings, it is often observed by doing activities “for the first time in the new year”. The first calligraphy of the new year is called 書初め (kakizomé). The kanji: 書 = writing (as in 書道 – Japanese calligraphy, or “the way ofContinueContinue reading “書初め (kakizomé) The First Calligraphy of the New Year”
Calligraphy by Vicky 