Japan's 72 micro-seasons
The old Japanese calendar splits the year into 24 solar terms, and each of those into three kō of about five days: 72 micro-seasons, most of them named after something you could see outside. The first, 東風解凍 (the east wind thaws the ice), begins on February 4 in both 2026 and 2027. Below: the micro-season for any date, all 72 with their readings and meanings, and the dates they begin in Japan.
Which micro-season is it today?
Pick a date. The calculator gives the micro-season in Japan on that day, its reading and meaning, which solar term it belongs to, when it runs, and the next one.
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The date starts at today in Japan; without JavaScript, the example above is January 15, 2027.
What the 72 micro-seasons are
Each of the 24 solar terms, or sekki, covers 15° of the Sun's yearly path, about 15 days. Each term has a first, second and third kō, which gives 72 periods of about five days. Put the two words together, 気 and 候, and you get 気候, kikō: the Japanese word for climate.
Most names describe weather, plants and animals. The list came from China. The astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai rewrote it in 1685 to fit Japan's own climate, and the Hōreki calendar corrected a few more; that revised list is the one used today. One old line that is not science stayed through every revision: 腐草為蛍, rotting grass turns into fireflies.
How the dates are worked out
From the Tenpō calendar of 1844, Japan's official calendars stopped giving each kō a date. The one that kept a date is Hangeshō, still on the calendar today, and it falls on the day the Sun reaches 100° of ecliptic longitude. This page uses the same rule for all 72: a new kō begins each time the Sun moves another 5°, and the date is the date in Japan.
Checked against the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan: the 48 solar terms of 2026 and 2027 and every Hangeshō from 2004 to 2027 fall on the same day, within a minute. Hangeshō is on July 2 in both 2026 and 2027.
Most micro-seasons last five days: 63 of the 72 from February 2026 to February 2027. The Sun moves faster in January than in July, so 7 of them last six days and 2 last four. Other lists may differ by a day, and readings differ too; this page uses the observatory's. The observatory itself notes that some names are not science and that none of them can pin down an exact day, so read them as a guide to the season.
All 72 micro-seasons, 2026–27
Grouped by solar term, from Risshun on February 4, 2026 to the day before Risshun in 2027. Each line gives the kanji, the reading and what it means. The January dates are in 2027.
| Dates | Micro-season |
|---|---|
| 立春 Risshun (Start of spring) | |
| Feb 4–8 | 東風解凍(氷) Harukaze kōri o toku The east wind thaws the ice |
| Feb 9–13 | 黄鶯睍睆 Uguisu naku Bush warblers sing |
| Feb 14–18 | 魚上氷 Uo kōri o izuru Fish rise from under the ice |
| 雨水 Usui (Rain water) | |
| Feb 19–22 | 土脉潤起 Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoru The soil grows damp |
| Feb 23–27 | 霞始靆 Kasumi hajimete tanabiku Haze begins to drift |
| Feb 28 – Mar 4 | 草木萌動 Sōmoku mebae izuru Grass and trees begin to bud |
| 啓蟄 Keichitsu (Insects awaken) | |
| Mar 5–9 | 蟄虫啓戸 Sugomori mushi to o hiraku Wintering insects open their doors |
| Mar 10–14 | 桃始笑 Momo hajimete saku Peach trees begin to bloom |
| Mar 15–19 | 菜虫化蝶 Namushi chō to naru Caterpillars become butterflies |
| 春分 Shunbun (Spring equinox) | |
| Mar 20–25 | 雀始巣 Suzume hajimete sukū Sparrows begin to nest |
| Mar 26–30 | 桜始開 Sakura hajimete hiraku Cherry blossoms begin to open |
| Mar 31 – Apr 4 | 雷乃発声 Kaminari sunawachi koe o hassu Thunder finds its voice |
| 清明 Seimei (Clear and bright) | |
| Apr 5–9 | 玄鳥至 Tsubame kitaru Swallows arrive |
| Apr 10–14 | 鴻雁北 Kōgan kaeru Wild geese head north |
| Apr 15–19 | 虹始見 Niji hajimete arawaru Rainbows begin to appear |
| 穀雨 Kokuu (Grain rain) | |
| Apr 20–24 | 葭始生 Ashi hajimete shōzu Reeds begin to sprout |
| Apr 25–29 | 霜止出苗 Shimo yande nae izuru Frost ends, rice seedlings grow |
| Apr 30 – May 4 | 牡丹華 Botan hana saku Peonies bloom |
| 立夏 Rikka (Start of summer) | |
| May 5–10 | 蛙始鳴 Kawazu hajimete naku Frogs begin to sing |
| May 11–15 | 蚯蚓出 Mimizu izuru Earthworms come up |
| May 16–20 | 竹笋生 Takenoko shōzu Bamboo shoots come up |
| 小満 Shōman (Grain fills) | |
| May 21–25 | 蚕起食桑 Kaiko okite kuwa o hamu Silkworms wake and eat mulberry leaves |
| May 26–30 | 紅花栄 Benibana sakau Safflowers flourish |
| May 31 – Jun 5 | 麦秋至 Mugi no toki itaru Barley harvest time comes |
| 芒種 Bōshu (Grain in ear) | |
| Jun 6–10 | 蟷螂生 Kamakiri shōzu Praying mantises hatch |
| Jun 11–15 | 腐草為蛍 Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naru Rotting grass turns into fireflies |
| Jun 16–20 | 梅子黄 Ume no mi kibamu Plums turn yellow |
| 夏至 Geshi (Summer solstice) | |
| Jun 21–25 | 乃東枯 Natsukarekusa karuru Self-heal withers |
| Jun 26 – Jul 1 | 菖蒲華 Ayame hana saku Irises bloom |
| Jul 2–6 | 半夏生 Hange shōzu Crow-dipper sprouts |
| 小暑 Shōsho (Lesser heat) | |
| Jul 7–11 | 温風至 Atsukaze itaru Warm winds arrive |
| Jul 12–16 | 蓮始開 Hasu hajimete hiraku Lotuses begin to open |
| Jul 17–22 | 鷹乃学習 Taka sunawachi waza o narau Young hawks learn to fly |
| 大暑 Taisho (Greater heat) | |
| Jul 23–27 | 桐始結花 Kiri hajimete hana o musubu Paulownia trees begin to bear seed |
| Jul 28 – Aug 1 | 土潤溽暑 Tsuchi uruōte mushiatsushi Damp earth, humid heat |
| Aug 2–6 | 大雨時行 Taiu tokidoki ni furu Heavy rain falls now and then |
| 立秋 Risshū (Start of autumn) | |
| Aug 7–12 | 涼風至 Suzukaze itaru Cool winds arrive |
| Aug 13–17 | 寒蝉鳴 Higurashi naku Evening cicadas sing |
| Aug 18–22 | 蒙霧升降 Fukaki kiri matō Thick fog settles in |
| 処暑 Shosho (Heat ends) | |
| Aug 23–27 | 綿柎開 Wata no hanashibe hiraku Cotton bolls open |
| Aug 28 – Sep 1 | 天地始粛 Tenchi hajimete samushi Heaven and earth begin to cool |
| Sep 2–6 | 禾乃登 Kokumono sunawachi minoru The grain ripens |
| 白露 Hakuro (White dew) | |
| Sep 7–12 | 草露白 Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi Dew shines white on the grass |
| Sep 13–17 | 鶺鴒鳴 Sekirei naku Wagtails sing |
| Sep 18–22 | 玄鳥去 Tsubame saru Swallows leave |
| 秋分 Shūbun (Autumn equinox) | |
| Sep 23–27 | 雷乃収声 Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu Thunder falls quiet |
| Sep 28 – Oct 2 | 蟄虫坏戸 Mushi kakurete to o fusagu Insects close their doors |
| Oct 3–7 | 水始涸 Mizu hajimete karuru Water begins to dry up |
| 寒露 Kanro (Cold dew) | |
| Oct 8–12 | 鴻雁来 Kōgan kitaru Wild geese arrive |
| Oct 13–17 | 菊花開 Kiku no hana hiraku Chrysanthemums bloom |
| Oct 18–22 | 蟋蟀在戸 Kirigirisu to ni ari Crickets chirp by the door |
| 霜降 Sōkō (Frost falls) | |
| Oct 23–27 | 霜始降 Shimo hajimete furu First frost |
| Oct 28 – Nov 1 | 霎時施 Kosame tokidoki furu Light rain falls now and then |
| Nov 2–6 | 楓蔦黄 Momiji tsuta kibamu Maples and ivy turn yellow |
| 立冬 Rittō (Start of winter) | |
| Nov 7–11 | 山茶始開 Tsubaki hajimete hiraku Camellias begin to bloom |
| Nov 12–16 | 地始凍 Chi hajimete kōru The ground begins to freeze |
| Nov 17–21 | 金盞香 Kinsenka saku Daffodils bloom |
| 小雪 Shōsetsu (Lesser snow) | |
| Nov 22–26 | 虹蔵(蟄)不見 Niji kakurete miezu Rainbows hide |
| Nov 27 – Dec 1 | 朔風払葉 Kitakaze konoha o harau The north wind sweeps the leaves |
| Dec 2–6 | 橘始黄 Tachibana hajimete kibamu Tachibana oranges begin to turn yellow |
| 大雪 Taisetsu (Greater snow) | |
| Dec 7–11 | 閉塞成冬 Sora samuku fuyu to naru Cold skies, winter sets in |
| Dec 12–16 | 熊蟄穴 Kuma ana ni komoru Bears go into their dens |
| Dec 17–21 | 鱖魚群 Sake no uo muragaru Salmon gather |
| 冬至 Tōji (Winter solstice) | |
| Dec 22–26 | 乃東生 Natsukarekusa shōzu Self-heal sprouts |
| Dec 27–31 | 麋角解 Sawashika no tsuno otsuru Deer shed their antlers |
| Jan 1–4 | 雪下出麦 Yuki kudarite mugi nobiru Wheat sprouts under the snow |
| 小寒 Shōkan (Lesser cold) | |
| Jan 5–9 | 芹乃栄 Seri sunawachi sakau Water dropwort flourishes |
| Jan 10–14 | 水泉動 Shimizu atataka o fukumu Springs hold their warmth |
| Jan 15–19 | 雉始雊 Kiji hajimete naku Pheasants begin to call |
| 大寒 Daikan (Greater cold) | |
| Jan 20–24 | 款冬華 Fuki no hana saku Butterbur blooms |
| Jan 25–29 | 水沢腹堅 Sawamizu kōri tsumeru Marsh water freezes solid |
| Jan 30 – Feb 3 | 鶏始乳 Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsuku Hens begin to sit on their nests |
Start dates, 2026–27 and 2027–28
The day each micro-season begins. Each runs until the day before the next one begins, and in each column the January dates fall in the following year.
| Micro-season | 2026–27 | 2027–28 |
|---|---|---|
| Harukaze kōri o toku | Feb 4 | Feb 4 |
| Uguisu naku | Feb 9 | Feb 9 |
| Uo kōri o izuru | Feb 14 | Feb 14 |
| Tsuchi no shō uruoi okoru | Feb 19 | Feb 19 |
| Kasumi hajimete tanabiku | Feb 23 | Feb 24 |
| Sōmoku mebae izuru | Feb 28 | Mar 1 |
| Sugomori mushi to o hiraku | Mar 5 | Mar 6 |
| Momo hajimete saku | Mar 10 | Mar 11 |
| Namushi chō to naru | Mar 15 | Mar 16 |
| Suzume hajimete sukū | Mar 20 | Mar 21 |
| Sakura hajimete hiraku | Mar 26 | Mar 26 |
| Kaminari sunawachi koe o hassu | Mar 31 | Mar 31 |
| Tsubame kitaru | Apr 5 | Apr 5 |
| Kōgan kaeru | Apr 10 | Apr 10 |
| Niji hajimete arawaru | Apr 15 | Apr 15 |
| Ashi hajimete shōzu | Apr 20 | Apr 20 |
| Shimo yande nae izuru | Apr 25 | Apr 25 |
| Botan hana saku | Apr 30 | Apr 30 |
| Kawazu hajimete naku | May 5 | May 6 |
| Mimizu izuru | May 11 | May 11 |
| Takenoko shōzu | May 16 | May 16 |
| Kaiko okite kuwa o hamu | May 21 | May 21 |
| Benibana sakau | May 26 | May 26 |
| Mugi no toki itaru | May 31 | Jun 1 |
| Kamakiri shōzu | Jun 6 | Jun 6 |
| Kusaretaru kusa hotaru to naru | Jun 11 | Jun 11 |
| Ume no mi kibamu | Jun 16 | Jun 16 |
| Natsukarekusa karuru | Jun 21 | Jun 21 |
| Ayame hana saku | Jun 26 | Jun 27 |
| Hange shōzu | Jul 2 | Jul 2 |
| Atsukaze itaru | Jul 7 | Jul 7 |
| Hasu hajimete hiraku | Jul 12 | Jul 12 |
| Taka sunawachi waza o narau | Jul 17 | Jul 18 |
| Kiri hajimete hana o musubu | Jul 23 | Jul 23 |
| Tsuchi uruōte mushiatsushi | Jul 28 | Jul 28 |
| Taiu tokidoki ni furu | Aug 2 | Aug 2 |
| Suzukaze itaru | Aug 7 | Aug 8 |
| Higurashi naku | Aug 13 | Aug 13 |
| Fukaki kiri matō | Aug 18 | Aug 18 |
| Wata no hanashibe hiraku | Aug 23 | Aug 23 |
| Tenchi hajimete samushi | Aug 28 | Aug 28 |
| Kokumono sunawachi minoru | Sep 2 | Sep 3 |
| Kusa no tsuyu shiroshi | Sep 7 | Sep 8 |
| Sekirei naku | Sep 13 | Sep 13 |
| Tsubame saru | Sep 18 | Sep 18 |
| Kaminari sunawachi koe o osamu | Sep 23 | Sep 23 |
| Mushi kakurete to o fusagu | Sep 28 | Sep 28 |
| Mizu hajimete karuru | Oct 3 | Oct 3 |
| Kōgan kitaru | Oct 8 | Oct 8 |
| Kiku no hana hiraku | Oct 13 | Oct 13 |
| Kirigirisu to ni ari | Oct 18 | Oct 18 |
| Shimo hajimete furu | Oct 23 | Oct 24 |
| Kosame tokidoki furu | Oct 28 | Oct 29 |
| Momiji tsuta kibamu | Nov 2 | Nov 3 |
| Tsubaki hajimete hiraku | Nov 7 | Nov 8 |
| Chi hajimete kōru | Nov 12 | Nov 13 |
| Kinsenka saku | Nov 17 | Nov 17 |
| Niji kakurete miezu | Nov 22 | Nov 22 |
| Kitakaze konoha o harau | Nov 27 | Nov 27 |
| Tachibana hajimete kibamu | Dec 2 | Dec 2 |
| Sora samuku fuyu to naru | Dec 7 | Dec 7 |
| Kuma ana ni komoru | Dec 12 | Dec 12 |
| Sake no uo muragaru | Dec 17 | Dec 17 |
| Natsukarekusa shōzu | Dec 22 | Dec 22 |
| Sawashika no tsuno otsuru | Dec 27 | Dec 27 |
| Yuki kudarite mugi nobiru | Jan 1 | Jan 1 |
| Seri sunawachi sakau | Jan 5 | Jan 6 |
| Shimizu atataka o fukumu | Jan 10 | Jan 11 |
| Kiji hajimete naku | Jan 15 | Jan 16 |
| Fuki no hana saku | Jan 20 | Jan 20 |
| Sawamizu kōri tsumeru | Jan 25 | Jan 25 |
| Niwatori hajimete toya ni tsuku | Jan 30 | Jan 30 |
Where Angel Step fits
Angel Step reads only your step count from Apple Health and shows it as one number on a living sky. It does not keep track of the seasons; that is this page's job. Five days is long enough to notice a change on the same walk.
Sources
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Koyomi Wiki — 七十二候: the names and readings used here (the Hōreki list), Shibukawa Shunkai's revision, the end of daily dates with the Tenpō calendar, and Hangeshō at 100° of ecliptic longitude. NAOJ
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan — 暦要項, the official dates and times of the solar terms. NAOJ
- Nippon.com — Japan's 72 microseasons: rewritten in 1685 by Shibukawa Shunkai; readings vary between sources. Nippon.com
- Wikipedia — Solar term: 24 terms, each divided into three pentads, 72 in a year. Wikipedia
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