[24 Solar Terms] Qingming

Seimei (Clear and Bright)

Approx. April 4 - April 19

This is the time when the spring sunlight pours down gently, and all things begin to shine brightly.

The traditional period of "Seimei," said to have originated from the phrase "Seijo Meiketsu" (pure, clean, bright, and clear), is, as its name suggests, a season when the air is clear, plants sprout, and everything is pure and bathed in bright light.

As the cold eases and the weather finally makes you want to go outside, the flowers in gardens and parks begin to bloom one after another, and the scenery becomes more colorful day by day. Cherry blossoms, which bloom after plum blossoms, are the stars of this season. The sight of petals dancing on the wind and accumulating on the ground is like spring snow.

Around Seimei, when nature seems to smile gently at us. If you look up at the sky, a blue sky with a gentle quality spreads out, different from the air that still held the coldness of winter. The wind carries the scent of earth and grass, and with every deep breath, it feels as if spring reaches deep into your body.

 

72 Micro-Seasons

Approx. April 4 - April 8: Gencho Itaru (Swallows arrive)

After a long journey, swallows return from the south.

Flying low as if to cut through the sky, their busy movements in fields and under eaves are somehow nostalgic and etched into our memories as a harbinger of spring. Swallows are also considered a symbol of a bountiful harvest, and people rejoice in their arrival, carefully watching over their nests.

 

Approx. April 9 - April 14: Kogan Kaeru (Wild geese fly north)

The wild geese that migrated to Japan to spend the winter now return to the northern lands.

Their V-shaped flight high in the sky seems to quietly bid farewell to the departing season, while also filling us with anticipation for the next cycle. It is a spring landscape where goodbyes and departures intertwine.

 

Approx. April 15 - April 19: Niji Hajimete Arawaru (Rainbows first appear)

This is when the first rainbows of the year appear, woven from moisture in the air and sunlight.

The seven-colored arch that suddenly appears in the sky after the rain is a momentary miracle that nature bestows upon us. Perhaps the reason everyone becomes as happy as a child the moment they see a rainbow is not rational, but simply a reaction of the heart.

 

Seasonal Delights, Events, etc.

This is the time when you want to fill your bento box with the delicious tastes of spring while the cherry blossoms are still in bloom, and enjoy cherry blossom viewing with family and friends.

Under a shower of cherry blossoms, enjoying some Japanese sake with dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet) and nanohana no ohitashi (blanched rapeseed greens). Whenever I see such a simple scene, I can't help but imagine that people hundreds of years ago were doing the same thing.

In the vegetable section of supermarkets, spring ingredients such as spring cabbage, nanohana (rapeseed blossoms), and new onions line the shelves.

Spring fish like Spanish mackerel (sawara) and sea bream (madai) are also not to be missed. Sawara, as its kanji suggests, is called "the fish that heralds spring," and this is its peak season. Its plump flesh is fatty, and it cooks elegantly whether grilled or simmered.

In Okinawa and the Amami Islands, an ancestral worship event called "Seimeisai (Shiimii)" is held. Relatives gather at the grave, clean it, offer offerings, and spend time like a picnic while praying for the ancestors.

While warm days are increasing, naturally drawing both mind and body outdoors, mornings and evenings are still cold. Please take good care of your health.