From Apr 20, 2026 to Apr 24, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 穀雨(Kokuu), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 葭始生(Ashi hajimete shozu).

What Is “Ashi hajimete shozu” (葭始生)?

"Ashi Hajimete Shōzu" (葭始生) — The First Sprouting of Reeds — is one of the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) of Japan, and corresponds to the first microseason of "Kokuu" (穀雨, "Grain Rains"), one of the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms). It arrives around late April each year, carrying the meaning: "the season when reeds begin to bud along the water's edge." The "ashi" (葭) referenced here is a grass of the family Poaceae — also written as 葦 in modern Japanese — that grows in dense clusters along riverbanks and wetlands. Long cherished as a defining feature of Japan's natural landscape, it has been woven into the country's scenery since ancient times. When "Ashi Hajimete Shōzu" arrives, the seasons shift from spring into early summer, and the vitality of the natural world grows ever stronger. The sight of soft young leaves swaying in the breeze is quietly beautiful, and it was through just such subtle changes in nature that people of old sensed the turning of the seasons. The Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) have been attracting renewed interest in recent years as a calendar that preserves the refined sensibility and deep reverence for nature held by the Japanese of old. Reeds are also well known for their ability to purify water, making them an important plant from an environmental conservation perspective as well. Learning about "Ashi Hajimete Shōzu" offers a window not only into Japan's traditional culture, but also into the idea of living in harmony with nature. By weaving the language of the seasons into everyday life, the familiar landscapes around us begin to look a little richer.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons