[The 24 Solar Terms] Shosho (End of Heat)

Shosho (End of Heat)

Around August 23rd - September 7th

Shosho means "the heat subsides." This period is said to be when the lingering summer heat, which persists even after Risshu (Beginning of Autumn), finally starts to settle down.

While the daytime sun is still strong, the morning and evening breezes gradually begin to carry a chill. In the evenings, the sounds of insects can be heard from the grass, creating a pleasant autumnal atmosphere.

The cumulonimbus clouds that symbolize summer skies gradually disappear, replaced by mackerel or sardine clouds. This year, only about one-third of the year remains.

 

Seventy-two Microseasons

Around August 23rd - 27th: "Wata no Hanashibe Hiraku" (Cotton Bolls Open)

This is when the calyxes covering the cotton bolls open, revealing white fibers from within. The swollen cotton bolls are harvested after being dried by the autumn winds.

It is one of the small signs indicating that the cold season, which once seemed far away, is surely approaching.

 

Around August 28th - September 1st: "Tenchi Hajimete Samushi" (Heaven and Earth Begin to Cool)

This is the time when the heat eases. "Shuku" means to soften or weaken.

In recent years, the lingering summer heat has been severe, so it's not always as cool as the name suggests. However, you should gradually feel the arrival of autumn in the quality of the evening breeze and the clarity of the stars in the night sky.

 

Around September 2nd - September 7th: "Kokumono Sunawachi Minoru" (Grains Ripen)

This is when the rice stalks in the paddies turn golden and begin to bow their heads.

The waves of rice swaying in the wind are a scene that promises an abundant autumn harvest. For the Japanese, who have lived mainly by rice cultivation, this holds special significance and is a time when expectations for the joy of harvest grow.

 

Seasonal Delights and Events

This is a rich season where the lingering summer and the beginning of autumn coexist.

While summer vegetables like eggplant, cucumber, and bell peppers are still in their prime, autumn ingredients such as taro, sweet potato, and pumpkin begin to appear.

Among fruits, figs, grapes, and pears are in season. These water-rich fruits are pleasantly refreshing for bodies tired from the heat.

For fish, "Sanma" (Pacific saury), a representative fish of autumn, becomes available. Simply grilled with salt, it is exceptional.

In some regions, "Jizo-bon" is held as a seasonal event, a festival cherished for wishing children healthy growth.

Furthermore, some areas retain "Bon no Nagori" (lingering Bon) customs centered around the 15th day of the seventh month of the old calendar, conveying how people have offered prayers with the changing seasons.

 

Summary of "Shosho"

Shosho is the period when one finally feels the end of summer.

Although the daytime heat is enough to make you sweat, you can notice the change in seasons by the sudden breeze and the sounds of insects.

This is also a time when summer fatigue can set in. Be kind to your body, which may be weakened by the temperature difference between hot outdoors and cool indoors, or by consuming too many cold foods.

Fig compote or grilled eggplant with ginger, for example, have a deep, nourishing flavor that soaks into the body at this time of year. Even small efforts in the kitchen can nurture the strength to welcome the next season in good health.