72 Seasons: September

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

処暑 Shosho (Manageable Heat)

• September 2–7: 禾乃登 Kokumono sunawachi minoru (Rice Ripens)

白露 Hakuro (White Dew)

• September 8–12: 草露白 Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi (Dew Glistens White on Grass)
• September 13–17: 鶺鴒鳴 Sekirei naku (Wagtails Chirp)
• September 18–22: 玄鳥去 Tsubame saru (Swallows Leave)

秋分 Shūbun (Autumn Equinox)

• September 23–27: 雷乃収声 Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu (Thunder Ceases)
• September 28–October 2: 蟄虫坏戸 Mushi kakurete to o fusagu (Insects Hide Underground)

________________________________________________________________________________

Rice Ripens marks the final season of Shosho, a time when rice, one of Japan's most vital food crops, begins to bear fruit and transition to its golden hue, signaling the approach of harvest season.

Hakuro, meaning "white dew," represents the period when nighttime and early morning temperatures cool further, causing glistening droplets of dew to form on grass and leaves. As the weather cools and fruits ripen, certain birds grow more active. Wagtails, often seen in pairs, fill the crisp early autumn air with their high-pitched, melodic calls. Swallows, on the other hand, are summer creatures highly attuned to temperature changes. In autumn, they abandon their nests and migrate south in large flocks, seeking warmer climates before winter’s arrival.

Shūbun, the autumnal equinox, is a significant time when day and night are of equal length in the Northern Hemisphere. After this day, nights gradually grow longer than days. It is a traditional custom in Japan to visit the graves of loved ones during this period, reflecting on the cycle of life and nature.

Thunderstorms, a near-daily occurrence in summer, gradually fade away as the season progresses. Insects, sensing the changing weather, begin to burrow into the soil, preparing for their winter slumber and patiently awaiting the return of spring.

________________________________________________________________________________

禾乃登 Kokumono sunawachi minoru (Rice Ripens)

草露白 Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi (Dew Glistens White on Grass)

鶺鴒鳴 Sekirei naku (Wagtails Chirp)

玄鳥去 Tsubame saru (Swallows Leave)

雷乃収声 Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu (Thunder Ceases)

蟄虫坏戸 Mushi kakurete to o fusagu (Insects Hide Underground)