72 Seasons: October

In Japan, there are 72 subdivision seasons called the shichijuni kou. The seasons are named after the birds, insects, plants, and weather of each change in nature every five days.

秋分 Shūbun (Autumn Equinox)

• September 28–October 2: 蟄虫坏戸 Mushi kakurete to o fusagu (Insects Hide Underground)
• October 3–7: 水始涸 Mizu hajimete karuru (Dry Out the Fields)

寒露 Kanro (Cold Dew)

• October 8–12: 鴻雁来 Kōgan kitaru (Wild Geese Cross Over from the North)
• October 13–17: 菊花開 Kiku no hana hiraku (Chrysanthemums Bloom)
• October 18–22: 蟋蟀在戸 Kirigirisu to ni ari (Crickets Hide in the House for Warmth)

霜降 Sōkō (Frost Falls)

• October 23–27: 霜始降 Shimo hajimete furu (Frost Start to Fall Down)
• October 28–November 1: 霎時施 Kosame tokidoki furu (Light Rains Unexpectedly Fall)

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Among the four seasons, late autumn has long been revered in Japan, cherished for its profound stillness and quiet beauty. It is a time when the richness of nature’s cycle becomes most evident. For approximately 1,400 years, rice has been cultivated in Japan's terraced fields, an iconic symbol of the country's agricultural heritage. As the autumn equinox ends, farmers begin draining water from the terraced paddies, signaling the start of the rice harvest.

Kōgan Kitaru marks the first season of Kanro (寒露), meaning "cold dew." During this period, mornings and evenings grow noticeably chilly, and the air becomes crisp and clear. When we look up at the night sky, the moon appears especially radiant and luminous. Responding to the cooling weather, wild geese start their southward migration for the winter, painting the sky with their V-shaped formations.

The chrysanthemum, a flower deeply rooted in Japanese culture, reaches its peak bloom during Kanro. Loved since the Nara period (710–794), it has been a symbol of autumn and nobility. In the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the chrysanthemum was adopted as the imperial family’s crest, reflecting its association with dignity and grace. Its symbolic meanings—"noble" and "sublime"—capture the season's essence. Meanwhile, as temperatures cool further, insects grow scarce, and crickets seek warmth by finding shelter in homes.

By October 23, people begin retrieving heavy coats and preparing their heaters for winter. In ancient times, the sight of frost shimmering on leaves at dawn was thought to be a gift falling from the heavens, akin to rain or snow. Frost, ephemeral and fleeting, vanishes with the morning sun, evoking in the Japanese a deep sense of transience and an appreciation for life’s impermanence.

As October draws to a close, light rains often arrive unexpectedly. These gentle, fleeting showers drizzle briefly and disappear before one can even reach for an umbrella, leaving the sky clear once again. Raindrops fall softly, blending seamlessly into the serene atmosphere of late autumn—a quiet reminder of the solemnity and fleeting beauty of the season.

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水始涸 Mizu hajimete karuru (Dry Out the Fields)

鴻雁来 Kōgan kitaru (Wild Geese Cross Over from the North)

菊花開 Kiku no hana hiraku (Chrysanthemums Bloom)

蟋蟀在戸 Kirigirisu to ni ari (Crickets Hide in the House for Warmth)

霜始降 Shimo hajimete furu (Frost Start to Fall Down)

霎時施 Kosame tokidoki furu (Light Rains Unexpectedly Fall)