The ancient Japanese calendar breaks the year down into 72 "climates" (候, kou), which roll up to 24 divisions of the solar year (節気, sekki). You can see how the Japanese calendar anticipates each of the four main seasons (Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall), versus the Western calendar, by about six weeks.
As we publish recipes/meal suggestions, we'll title the posts using the major season name. For example, our first post is for Minor Heat, which begins on July 7.
Season | From | Western Calendar |
First Spring | February 4 | |
Rain Water | February 19 | |
Awakening of Insects | March 5 | |
Spring Equinox | March 20 | Spring |
Clear and Bright | April 4 | |
Grain Rain | April 20 | |
First Summer | May 5 | |
Grain Full | May 20 | |
Grain in Ear | June 5 | |
Summer Solstice | June 21 | Summer |
Minor Heat | July 7 | |
Major Heat | July 22 | |
First Autumn | August 7 | |
Limits of Heat | August 23 | |
White Dew | September 7 | |
Autumn Equinox | September 22 | Fall |
Cold Dew | October 8 | |
Frost Descent | October 23 | |
First Winter | November 8 | |
Minor Snow | November 23 | |
Major Snow | December 7 | |
Winter Solstice | December 22 | Winter |
Minor Cold | January 6 | |
Major Cold | January 21 | |