The 72 Seasons - September 2023

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)

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Rice ripens is the last season of Shosho, at this time, the rice plants one of the most important food crops in Japan begin to bear fruit and turn yellow.

Hakuro means white dew, at this time, the air cools down further during the night and early morning, and the glistening white dew forms on the grass or leaves. As the weather cools and the fruit ripens, some birds begin to become active. Wagtails are often seen in couples, they chirp with a high and piercing sound, echoing through the clear, early autumn sky. Swallows are summer creatures, they are sensitive to the temperature, in autumn, they leave their nests and head south in a large group before winter comes.

Shūbun is the autumnal equinox. After this day, the daytime gradually becomes shorter than the night in the Northern Hemisphere. On this day, the Japanese visit the graves of their loved ones. Thunderstorms, which occur almost every day in summer, have gradually disappeared during this period. The insects begin to hide under the soil, prepare for their winter retreat, and wait quietly for spring.

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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)