From Jun 26, 2026 to Jun 30, 2026, the corresponding solar term in the Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms) is 夏至(Geshi), and the corresponding microseason in the Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons) is 菖蒲華(Ayame hana saku).

What Is “Ayame hana saku” (菖蒲華)?

"Ayame Hana Saku" (菖蒲華, "Irises Bloom") corresponds to the 29th microseason of the traditional Japanese calendar system known as Shichijūni Kō (72 microseasons). It is the second microseason of the solar term "Geshi" (夏至, "Summer Solstice") within Nijūshi Sekki (24 solar terms), and it usually falls around June 26 to June 30 each year. The phrase means "the time when irises bloom beautifully," evoking the dignified purple flowers that blossom in the midst of the rainy season and quietly announce the arrival of summer. The kanji "菖蒲" can be read as either "shōbu" or "ayame", which often causes confusion. In this case, however, "ayame" (菖蒲) does not refer to the "shōbu" used for the Boys' Festival on Tango no Sekku (端午の節句, "Boys' Festival"), but rather to the "hanashōbu" (花菖蒲, Japanese iris). Although their names are similar, they are entirely different plants: "shōbu" belongs to the calamus family, while "ayame" and "hanashōbu" belong to the iris family. Ayame, hanashōbu, and kakitsubata are so similar in appearance that they are often difficult to distinguish. Generally, ayame begin to bloom in early May, followed by kakitsubata in mid-May, and then hanashōbu from mid-May through late June. It is the hanashōbu that reaches its peak during the time known as "Ayame Hana Saku." Compared with ayame, hanashōbu flowers are more graceful and ornate. During the Edo period, they were extensively cultivated and refined as ornamental plants, giving rise to countless varieties ranging from large to small blossoms in a wide array of colors and forms. Hanashōbu can truly be considered one of the finest expressions of Japan's unique horticultural culture and its deep appreciation for flowers. During the rainy season, blue and purple blossoms such as irises and hydrangeas become especially abundant. When touched by rain, their colors grow even more vivid, creating a beauty that seems to pierce the eyes. As the saying goes, "Izure ayame ka kakitsubata" (いずれ菖蒲か杜若) — "so beautiful that one cannot choose between the iris and the rabbit-ear iris" — each possesses its own incomparable charm. The glistening petals holding drops of rain seem to capture the very essence of the Japanese rainy season.

List of Japan’s 72 Microseasons