[24 Solar Terms] Risshun (Beginning of Spring)

Risshun (Beginning of Spring)

Around February 4th – 18th

This is the period when the cold gradually begins to ease.

The day before Risshun is generally called Setsubun, and in the old calendar, Risshun itself marked the beginning of the year.

Seeing the plum blossoms unfurl amidst the cold allows us to feel the arrival of spring nearby.

 

《Seventy-Two Microseasons》

Around February 4th – 8th: “East Wind Melts Ice” (Tōfū Kaitō)

Around February 9th – 13th: “Bush Warbler Sings” (Ōgū Uguisu Naku)

Around February 14th – 18th: “Fish Emerge from Ice” (Uo Kōri o Izuru)

As a spring-like breeze thaws the frozen earth, bush warblers sing “hō-hokekyo.” Fish also leap from the water's surface.

 

Speaking of ingredients that emerge after the snow melts, there's fukinotou (butterbur sprouts).

Their unique aroma and bitterness are typically enjoyed as tempura or ohitashi (blanched and dressed).